John Biddulph Martin

John Biddulph Martin
Born	Eaton Square, London, England
Died	March 20, 1897(1897-03-20) (aged 55) Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain
Occupation(s)	Banker, statistician
Years active	1864–1897
Known for	Partner in Martins Bank; President of the Royal Statistical Society; author of "The Grasshopper" in Lombard Street

John Biddulph Martin (10 June 1841 – 20 March 1897) was a prominent English banker and statistician.

Early life

Born on 10 June 1841 in Eaton Square, London, Martin was the second son of Robert Martin, associated with Overbury Court, Tewkesbury. He received his education at Harrow School before enrolling at Exeter College, Oxford in 1860, where he earned a B.A. in 1862 and later an M.A. in 1867.

Banking career

In 1864, Martin joined the family banking enterprise, Martins Bank, as a partner, contributing to its operations and legacy.

Publications

Among Martin’s significant contributions was the book "The Grasshopper" in Lombard Street, which chronicles the history of Martins Bank, originally owned by Sir Thomas Gresham. The bank’s emblem featuring a grasshopper is derived from Gresham’s crest.

His 1882 article titled "Our Gold Coinage" played an influential role in reforms concerning gold currency during the late nineteenth century. The paper provided a statistical examination of the depreciation of gold coins since their reintroduction in 1817 after the Napoleonic Wars. This work appeared in the Journal of the Bankers' Institute. Additionally, Martin was a regular contributor to the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, where he held the position of President at the time of his passing. His 1891 piece "The Evolution of our Banking System", published in the Economic Journal, is also recognized for its valuable insights.

Sportsman

Between 1865 and 1870, Martin was an active footballer for Wanderers F.C.. He took part in the significant London v Sheffield match in 1866 representing "London," during which he scored both a goal and a touchdown. At the time of his death, he held the presidency of the London Athletic Club.

Family

Martin’s older brother, Richard B. Martin, served as a Member of Parliament for Droitwich from 1892 until 1906. In 1883, John Biddulph Martin married Victoria Woodhull, an American advocate for women's suffrage.

Death

He passed away from pneumonia on 20 March 1897 while in Las Palmas, Canary Islands. His wife Victoria survived him.