15. Joseph Rowntree made a fortune manufacturing chocolate but was so uncomfortable with his wealth that he established charitable trusts in order to give it away
Across northern and middle England in the 19th century, a number of Quaker businessmen enjoyed significant success. Their religious convictions meant that they were, almost without exception, model employers, concerned for the spiritual and physical well-being of their employers. Many of them were also uncomfortable with the wealth they started amassing. As such, they set up workers’ homes and other charitable foundations. Joseph Rowntree was the most notable of these men, and the legacy of his philanthropy can still be seen today.
Born in 1836, Rowntree’s father owned a grocery business in the city of York. As a young man, Joseph spent some time in London before moving back home. For a while he worked in the family business. However, in 1869, he sold his share of the firm to his older brother and joined his younger brother in a new venture, a cocoa and chocolate business. By 1890, Rowntree needed a new, larger factory and by 1902, he was employing more than 2,000 people and was a very rich man indeed.
Frugal by nature, Rowntree saw no need for his fortune. As a result, he set up three separate philanthropic trusts. These provided adult education, housing and spiritual counselling for people in York. Rowntree himself remained active in this philanthropy work until within five days of his death in 1925 at the age of 88. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation continues to work to “inspire social change through research, policy and practice”.