Daniel Colwall facts for kids
Daniel Colwall (died 1690) was an important British merchant and a kind person who gave a lot of money to help others. He is remembered for his support of science and education.
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About Daniel Colwall
Daniel Colwall was a successful merchant. He was also a philanthropist, which means he used his wealth to help people and good causes. He lived in England during the 1600s.
His Role in the Royal Society
Colwall was one of the very first members of the Royal Society. This is a famous group in London dedicated to promoting science. He joined on May 20, 1663. Later that year, he was chosen to be on their main council.
From 1665 to 1679, Colwall served as the treasurer for the Royal Society. This meant he managed their money. He also gave the society £50 in both 1663 and 1666. He continued to make regular payments to support their work. He passed away in November 1690.
Daniel Colwall's Legacy
Daniel Colwall's generosity left a lasting impact. He helped create a museum and supported a famous school.
Helping Create a Museum
Thanks to money from Daniel Colwall, the Royal Society bought a collection of interesting objects in 1666. These "rarities" were kept at Gresham College. This was an important first step in starting a museum for the Royal Society.
A scientist named Dr. Nehemiah Grew wrote a book about these objects. It was called Musæum Regalis Societatis and was published in 1681. This book had 31 detailed pictures. Many, if not all, of these pictures were paid for by Colwall himself.
Supporting Christ's Hospital
For a long time, Daniel Colwall was a governor at Christ's Hospital. This is a well-known school. He was very generous to the school during his lifetime.
In his will, which is a document stating what happens to his money after he dies, he left even more to the school. He gave Christ's Hospital a yearly payment of £62 and 8 shillings forever. He also left the school a large sum of £4,000. This money helped the school continue its important work for many years.
