William Haldimand

William Haldimand ( born September 9, 1784 in London, † September 20, 1862 in Lausanne ) was a British banker and politician.

His father was the wealthy banker and merchant Antoine -François Haldimand ( 1741-1817 ). His sister was Jane.

Haldimand made ​​a bank clerk and in 1809 director of the Bank of England. In 1817 he became director of the bank founded by his father. In 1818 he acquired the manor Le Denantou in Lausanne. In 1820 he was elected as a Liberal Member of Parliament for Ipswich to the British House of Commons. His re-election in 1826 was denied and he renounced his political mandate.

The following year he liquidated his bank and withdrew in 1828 upon his Swiss manor, where he devoted himself as a philanthropist benevolent and charitable works in retirement. He created in Lausanne the Haldimand Tower. In 1843 he was made an honorary citizen of Lausanne.

Charles Dickens Dickens Sydney son (* 1847) was his godson.