William Haldimand

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William Haldimand (9 September 1784 – 20 September 1862) was an English philanthropist and Member of Parliament.

[edit] Early life

Haldimand was born in London in 1784, the son of Anthony Francis Haldimand (1741–1817), a London merchant and the nephew and heir of Sir Frederick Haldimand. One of twelve children, most of whom died young, after receiving a plain English education he entered at the age of sixteen his father's counting-house.

[edit] Career

In 1809 at the age of 25 he became a director of the Bank of England. He was an enthusiastic advocate of the resumption of specie payments, and gave evidence in the parliamentary inquiry which led to the act of 1819. In 1820 he was elected MP for Ipswich, and was re-elected in 1826, however the return was disputed, and he gave up the seat.

Haldimand settled permanently at his summer villa, Denantou, near Lausanne in 1828. Taking an interest in the cause of Greek independence, he sent the insurgents £1000 by his nephew, and further, guaranteed Admiral Cochrane £20,000 to prepare a fleet. In 1829 he erected a hospital for poor patients in Aix-les-Bains after visiting the town for his health. Initially named after him, after the annexation of Savoy to France it was styled the Hortense Hospital, although Queen Hortense had merely endowed some beds in it.

Haldimand incurred considerable losses, making large purchases of French rentes, with a view of strengthening the new Orléans dynasty, but his philanthropic donations still continued. He gave £24,000 for an asylum for blind people at Lausanne, and £3000 towards the cost of an Anglican church at Ouchy. He also exerted himself in favour of the free church in Vaud, threatened with state persecution.

In 1857 he presented a collection of manuscripts to the British Museum, which included Sir Frederick Haldimand's official correspondence.

Haldimand died at Denantou in 1862. He was unmarried, and bequeathed £20,000 to the asylum for blind people at Lausanne.

[edit] References

Historical list of MPs: I
[1] (Requires Subscription)

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by William Newton and Robert Crickett	Member of Parliament for Ipswich with Thomas Barrett-Lennard 1820–1826	Succeeded by Robert Adam Christopher and Charles Mackinnon