Thomas Pleasants facts for kids

Thomas Pleasants (born 1729, died 1818) was an important businessman and a very generous person in Dublin, Ireland. He was known for helping others. A street in Dublin, called Pleasants Street, is named after him.

Early Life and Business

Thomas Pleasants was born in County Carlow in 1729. His father was William Pleasants, and his mother was Grace Edwards. His grandfather, also named Thomas Pleasants, was a well-known official in Dublin.

Thomas inherited a large piece of land near Capel Street in Dublin. This land was leased from the Dublin Corporation. This property helped him earn money. He also worked with his cousins, the Pasleys, who sold wine.

In 1787, Thomas married Mildred Daunt. She was the second daughter of George Daunt, a surgeon at Mercer's Hospital. Thomas and Mildred were buried at St. Bride's Church after they passed away. Mildred died in 1814, and Thomas died in 1818.

Helping Others: His Generous Gifts

Thomas Pleasants was famous for his kindness and for giving away large sums of money to help people. He wanted to make life better for those in need.

Here are some of his important donations:

• In 1814, he gave over £12,000 to build a large "stove-house" near Cork Street. This was a warm place for poor weavers in an area of Dublin called The Liberties.
• He donated £8,000 to help build the Meath Hospital. This hospital provided medical care for many people.
• He gave his own house at 67 Camden Street to be used as a school and home for orphaned girls. He also provided £1,200 every year to run it.
• He gave extra money to help these girls get a good start in life. This led to the creation of Pleasant's Asylum for Female Orphans in 1818. This orphanage helped many girls until it closed in 1949.
• He also gave his large collection of books and a lot of money to the Royal Dublin Society. This society helps promote science, art, and industry in Ireland.

Thomas Pleasants is remembered as a kind and generous person who used his wealth to improve the lives of many people in Dublin.