Abraham Newland facts for kids
Abraham Newland (born around 1730, died 1807) was a very important person at the Bank of England. He worked there for many years. From 1782 to 1807, he was the chief cashier. This meant he was in charge of all the money. His signature was so important that people started calling a bank note "an Abraham Newland." This was because a bank note wasn't official without his signature!
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Who Was Abraham Newland?
Abraham Newland was a key figure in the history of the Bank of England. He helped make sure the bank's money system worked well. He was known for his dedication and his long service. His name became famous because of his role with bank notes.
Abraham's Early Life
Abraham Newland was born around 1730. His father was William Newland. His mother was Anne Arnold. William Newland worked as a baker in a part of London called Southwark. Not much else is known about Abraham's early years.
Life at the Bank of England
Abraham Newland started working at the Bank of England in 1748. He quickly moved up the ranks. By 1782, he became the chief cashier. This was a very important job. He was responsible for signing all the bank notes. Without his signature, the notes were not valid.
Newland was very dedicated to his work. He even slept inside the Bank of England for 25 years! This meant he was often away from his own house. His commitment helped the bank run smoothly. During his time, bank notes became a common way to pay for things.
His Wealth and Legacy
Abraham Newland retired from his job in 1807. He was offered a yearly payment, but he said no. Instead, he accepted a special gift. This gift was a service of silver plates worth 1000 guineas. A guinea was an old British coin.
Newland made a lot of money during his life. He did this by investing his own money. He would buy shares in loans that the government made. This was a common way for people to get rich back then. When he died, he left money to many family members.
A Famous Epitaph
Abraham Newland is also remembered for something funny. He wrote his own epitaph. An epitaph is a short text written on a tombstone. His epitaph was: "Beneath this stone old Abraham lies; Nobody laughs, and nobody cries. Where he has gone, and how he fares Nobody knows and nobody cares." This shows he had a good sense of humor.
