Daniel Gurney (1791–1880), was an
English banker and
antiquary from the
Gurney family.
Gurney was born at
Earlham Hall, near
Norwich, on 9 March 1791. He was youngest son of
John Gurney (1749–1809) of
Earlham,
Norfolk, and brother of
Elizabeth Fry, the
philanthropist,
Louisa Gurney Hoare, the writer on education, and
Joseph John Gurney and
Samuel Gurney, all of whom are separately noticed. His mother, Catherine, daughter of Daniel Bell, died in 1792. He descended from the ancient family of Gurney or Gournay, a younger branch of which held certain manors in Norfolk (temp. Henry II). Daniel was a direct descendant of this branch of the family.
After completing his education Gurney entered the Norwich firm of
Gurney & Co., of which he was afterwards the head, and for more than sixty years a partner. He wrote several essays on banking, which were printed for private circulation only. As the head of one of the first banks in the provinces he had much influence, both socially and politically. His amiability, courtesy, and generosity greatly endeared him to his contemporaries. Gurney was mainly instrumental in establishing the
West Norfolk and Lynn Hospital.
One of Gurney's favourite pursuits was
archæology, and he was a prominent fellow of the
Society of Antiquaries. He took great interest in
genealogy. In 1848 he printed in two volumes for private circulation an elaborate work entitled ‘The Record of the House of Gournay,’ to which he afterwards (1858) added a supplement. This book is highly valued for its varied antiquarian information and research.
Gurney, who was a
conservative in politics, was a
justice of the peace and deputy-lieutenant for the county of Norfolk, and filled the office of
High Sheriff of Norfolk in 1853. He married in 1822 the Lady Harriet Jemima Hay (1803–1837), daughter of
William Hay, 17th Earl of Erroll, by whom he had 9 children. Their son, Charles Henry Gurney, who married a daughter of
Henry Thoby Prinsep, graduated
Trinity College, Cambridge, and was a partner in Saunderson's Bank, London.[1] Daniel Gurney himself died, 14 June 1880, at his seat near
North Runcton, Norfolk.