Henry Tate

Sir Henry Tate ( born March 11, 1819 in Chorley, † December 5, 1899 ) was an English sugar merchant, known for establishing the Tate Gallery in London.

Tate was born in Chorley, Lancashire, the son of a pastor. At 13, he took an apprenticeship with a grocer in Liverpool. After 7 years, it gave him an opportunity to open his own business. His business was a success, and until he was 35, he was already operating six stores.

1859 Tate went into a partnership with John Wright & Co, a sugar refinery, and sold his grocery stores. In 1869, he had complete control over the company and renamed it to Henry Tate & Sons. In 1872 he purchased the Long - patent in order to produce sugar cubes can, and built in the same year a new factory in Liverpool.

Tate quickly became a millionaire, and donated generously to charity.

In 1889 he donated his collection of 65 contemporary images to the government on the condition that they would be issued in a matching gallery. For the construction of this gallery again he donated £ 80,000. The National Gallery of British Art, now known as the Tate Gallery, was established on July 21, 1897 at the site of the former Millbank Prison. Tate was in 1898 appointed a baronet.