George Frederick Carden

George Frederick Carden (1798 – 18 November 1874) was an English barrister, magazine editor and businessman, credited with the development of the garden cemetery movement in Britain and the foundation of London's pioneering example: Kensal Green Cemetery.

Development of the General Cemetery Company Carden, later editor of the Penny Magazine, was apparently inspired by a visit to Paris's Père-Lachaise Cemetery in 1821, and saw an opportunity to replace overcrowded, insanitary church graveyards with appealing suburban cemeteries catering for the affluent middle and upper classes. His first prospectus, issued in 1825, failed, but a new committee established in February 1830, and architects Thomas Willson (who had previously proposed an ambitious Metropolitan Sepulchre project) and Augustus Charles Pugin, gained more financial, political and public support to fund the 'General Cemetery Company'. Public meetings were held in June and July 1830 at the Freemasons' Tavern, and Carden was elected treasurer. Meanwhile, Paul had been elected treasurer in place of Carden, who was reduced to the position of registrar. In February 1833 Carden was suspended from the board of directors for making statements prejudicial to the company, and four months later removed as registrar. and was buried in Kensal Green.