The largest charitable bequest in US history (at the time) was inspired by another benefactor George Peabody, founder of the Peabody Institute and famous philanthropist.
Johns Hopkins made his fortune in ‘commissions’ and banking, later railroads. (His peculiar first name was his mother’s maiden name.) His parents were devout Quakers. He never married.
Acutely aware of lack of medical facilities in times of epidemic in his hometown of Baltimore and his own scant education, led him to bequeath, a few years before his death, $7 million for the founding of a free hospital, and Johns Hopkins University.
THE SUN
Baltimore, Thursday Morning, December 25, 1873.
Death of Johns Hopkins
His Last illness Life and Character His Career as a Merchant and Banker
His Benevolent Enterprises Monuments of Learning and Charity, &c.
Mr. Johns Hopkins, the merchant, banker and millionaire, whose beneficence this community is so largely to realize in the future, died at 3:45 o'clock yesterday morning, at his residence No. 81 Saratoga street, in the seventy-ninth year of his age.