Somerville Gurney
(1835-1917)
1 March 1861

Volume 2, page 250, sitting number 2291.

Somerville Arthur Gurney was a Quaker from a prominent Norfolk family. Their family's name was a byword for wealth. The judge in Gilbert and Sullivan's Trial by Jury at one point sings 'At length I became as rich as the Gurneys.'

Born at North Runcton in Norfolk on 21 October 1835, Somerville's parents were Daniel Gurney (1791-1880) and Lady Harriet Jemima née Hay, 4th daughter of the 17th Earl of Erroll. Daniel Gurney's elder sister was the prison reformer, Elizabeth Fry (1780-1845).

Somerville was a director of Barclays and Co Ltd, a JP. and a Deputy-Lieutenant. His address was North Runcton Hall, Lynn, Norfolk.

In 1857 he married Katherine, daughter of Anthony Hamond of Westacre, Norfolk. The couple had four sons and six daughters.

In 1909 Somerset Gurney was created a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order [KCVO].

Sir Somerville Gurney died on 17 May 1917. According to the Western Mail (19 May 1917): 'Sir Somerville A. Gurney died during Thursday night at North Runcton, Lynn, aged 83. He was on the directorate of Messrs Barlay's Bank. Sir Somerville and Lady Gurney celebrated their golden wedding on April 14, and Lady Gurney died three days later. Lynn Corporation last week decided to confer the freedom of the borough upon Sir Somerville.'

He left an estate valued at £57,424.