The Foundling Museum

The Foundling Museum owes its name to the Foundling Hospital founded in 1739 - the first orphanage in Great Britain for abandoned children. Its founder was Thomas Coram - a sailor and philanthropist. The museum deals with the history of the orphanage and the achievements of its most important donors: Coram, cartoonist William Hogarth and composer Georg Friedrich Handel.

Coram, himself an orphan, applied for 17 years for a royal permission to build an orphanage. Haendel became interested in his activities, he performed for free at the orphanage, and transferred proceeds from concerts to Foundling Hospital. Hogart encouraged other artists to donate their work for orphanage free of charge. Currently, the Coram charity has approximately 100 images estimated at £ 30 million.

The museum has the world's largest private collection of souvenirs from Georg Friedrich Handel. In front of the entrance to the museum there is a statue of Coram, by William McMillan.