George Samuel Ford

George S. Ford
Born	1790
Died	1868
Occupation	Money lender

George Samuel Ford (1790–1868) was a bill discounter (money lender) and solicitor who took interest in the financial affairs of many gentlemen of the period including the Lords Lichfield, Chesterfield, Suffield and the Count d'Orsay. A passionate follower of the turf, he was known in horseracing circles as "Lawyer Ford".

Ford's offices were at 8 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, London; his residential properties were in Stratton Street, London and Brunswick Square, Brighton. He was born in St Clement Danes, London, and in 1816 married Hanna Bramah (1795–1862) at St George's, Hanover Square. Their children included Sir Theodore Thomas Ford, who became Chief Justice for the Straits Settlements,Horace Alfred Ford, one of the greatest target archers of all time, and William Augustus Ford, who followed Ford into the business and was a cricketer who played for the MCC. Ford's grandchildren included Francis Ford, a good cricketer who played for his country, Lionel Ford who became headmaster of Harrow and the painter Henry Justice Ford.

Ford kept horseracing stables and a stud in Newmarket and had interests in Epsom.

In 1844 the affairs of James Gibbs, attorney of Jermyn Street, came under public scrutiny. He had been acting as a money scrivener, investing clients' money in worthless schemes, or using the money to bolster his failing business. Over a period of 20 years he slipped deeper into debt and borrowed money at exorbitant interest rates to avoid insolvency. Gibbs was eventually forced into bankruptcy, and this resulted in public exposure of the bill discounters' activities – including those of Ford. He had been dealing with Gibbs for many years and lending at rates of 25%, although his rates were not the highest as others were charging up to 60%.

...
Wikipedia