John Horsley Palmer

John Horsley Palmer (7 July 1779 – 7 February 1858) was an English banker and Governor of the Bank of England.

Life

Palmer was the fourth son and seventh child of William Palmer of Nazeing, Essex, and his wife Mary Horsley, daughter of John Horsley the rector of Thorley, Hertfordshire, and sister of Samuel Horsley. His father was a London merchant. He was educated at Charterhouse School where in 1794 he took part in the first school cricket match against Westminster School.

Palmer became a Director of the Bank of England in 1811, remaining until 1857. He served as Deputy Governor of the bank from 1828 to 1830, and Governor from 1830 to 1833. In June 2020 the Bank of England issued a public apology for the involvement of Palmer, amongst other employees, in the slave trade following the investigation by the Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slave-ownership at UCL.

In 1820, he purchased Hurlingham House in Fulham. He extended the property at Hurlingham by six acres, and let it to the brother of the Duke of Wellington.

He was a member of Political Economy Club and published several pamphlets including The Causes and Consequences of the Pressure Upon the Money-market .

Palmer died aged 78 and was buried in Catacomb B at Kensal Green Cemetery.

Family

Palmer married Elizabeth Belli, daughter of John Belli and Elizabeth Stuart Cockerell, on 16 November 1810. Her portrait was painted by Thomas Lawrence.