William John Birkbeck was a prominent English banker, philanthropist, and social reformer of the 19th century. His life story, as told through his own letters and those of his family and associates, offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of Victorian finance, politics, and cultural life, as well as the challenges and opportunities faced by those who sought to improve the welfare of the less fortunate. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.