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Joseph Rowntree (Philanthropist)

Joseph Rowntree
Joseph Rowntree in 1862.jpg
Rowntree around the age of 26.
Born 24 May 1836
York, Yorkshire
Died 24 February 1925 (aged 88)
Occupation Chocolatier
Spouse(s) Julia Seebohm (m. 1862–63)
Emma Seebohm (1867–1925, his death)
Children 6
Website Rowntree Society

Joseph Rowntree (24 May 1836 – 24 February 1925) was a Quaker philanthropist and businessman from York, England. Rowntree is perhaps best known for being a champion of social reform, partner and friend of Charles Booth, and his time as a chocolatier at family business Rowntree's, one of the most important in Britain. Even as a powerful businessman, he was deeply interested in improving the quality of life of his employees; this led to him becoming a philanthropist, pursuing many charitable causes. In 1904 he created three trusts, the Joseph Rowntree Village Trust (JRVT) which was originally set up to build and manage the garden village of New Earswick, the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT) and the Joseph Rowntree Social Services Trust (JRSST). The latter two were both set up to effect social reform, the difference between them being that whereas the Charitable Trust was set up as a charity, the Social Services Trust was set up as a limited company so that if necessary it would be able to undertake social and political work not legally allowed by a charitable Trust. He suggested that only the JRVT would be permanent but in fact all the trusts are still in existence although the Social Services Trust has changed its name to the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust and with the separation of the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust from the Village Trust in 1968, there are now four trusts that exist today.

Rowntree was born the son of Sarah and Joseph Rowntree, on Pavement Street in York where his father owned a grocer's shop. He attended Bootham School. At fourteen he accompanied his father on a visit to Ireland, and witnessed the effects of the potato famine. This experience was to provide the grounding for his political views and business ideas later in life.

He started working in his father's grocery business as an apprentice the following year, and after his father's death in 1859 he took over the running, jointly managing the business with his brother John Stephenson Rowntree.


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