John Horsley Palmer

John Horsley Palmer (7 July 1779 – 7 February 1858) was an English banker and Governor of the Bank of England.

Palmer was the fourth son and seventh child of William Palmer of Wanlip, Leicestershire (1748?–1821)^[1] and later of Nazeing Park, Essex, a London merchant, and his wife Mary Horsley (born 1747^[1]), daughter of John Horsley the rector of Thorley, Hertfordshire, and sister of Samuel Horsley.^[2] George Palmer (MP for South Essex) was his elder brother, and William Jocelyn Palmer Sir Ralph Palmer were also brothers.^[3][2]

He was educated at Charterhouse School where in 1794 he took part in the first school cricket match against Westminster School.

Palmer became a Director of the Bank of England in 1811, remaining until 1857. He served as Deputy Governor of the bank from 1828 to 1830, and Governor from 1830 to 1833.^[4] In June 2020 the Bank of England issued a public apology for the involvement of Palmer, amongst other employees, in the slave trade following the investigation by the Centre for the Study of the Legacies of British Slave-ownership at UCL.^[5]

In 1820, he purchased Hurlingham House in Fulham.^[6] He extended the property at Hurlingham by six acres, and let it to the brother of the Duke of Wellington.^[6]

He was a member of Political Economy Club and published several pamphlets including The Causes and Consequences of the Pressure Upon the Money-market .

Palmer died aged 78 and was buried in Catacomb B at Kensal Green Cemetery.^[7]

Palmer married Elizabeth Belli, daughter of John Belli and Elizabeth Stuart Cockerell, on 16 November 1810.^[8] Her portrait was painted by Thomas Lawrence.^[9]