A Life Divided

About the Book

George Peabody's career was tightly woven into the context of major 19th century events in both the U.S. and Great Britain, including America's Civil War and its aftermath.  An obvious division in his life was between active American patriotism--and determination to live in England for his last 32 years.  He declined Queen Victoria's offer of a baronetcy because it would have required him to give up American citizenship, but he also turned down appointment as U.S. Secretary of the Treasury because he wanted to remain in England.

    He was the leader in attracting badly needed British and European capital to the U.S. and was the major financier of America's railroad industry, mechanized farm equipment industry, and first-ever Transatlantic telegraph cable.  The firm of George Peabody & Co. eventually became J.P. Morgan & Co.

    Peabody also divided his life between business and philanthropy.  He invented the now-familiar permanent foundation as a way of financing charitable activities, as distinct from one-time bequests for specific projects.  In his lifetime he was recognized as the greatest philanthropist in history, with dramatic undertakings on both sides of the Atlantic that are still important today.                                                  And he accomplished all this with only a fourth-grade education.  A life divided, indeed!  In uniquely productive ways.

About the Author

Robert Van Riper writes non-fiction with a novelist's flair, and has done both kinds of writing successfully. Two novels, A Really Sincere Guy and The Governor, were published while he was engaged full time as an executive in public relations and advertising. Two non-fiction works, Setting Standards for Financial Reporting and A Life Divided, came along after his retirement from business. He also has played responsible roles in public service organizations, ranging from hospital trusteeship to Elder of his church. He is a graduate of Oberlin College, as is his wife Barbara. They have two daughters: Alexandra, a former actress, is in the publishing business in Baltimore; Tracy is vice president in the private banking division of a major New York bank. Bob and Barbara Van Riper reside in Wilton, Connecticut.