George Livesey

Sir George Thomas Livesey (8 April 1834 – 4 October 1908) was a British engineer, industrialist and philanthropist. He was the chairman of the South Metropolitan Gas Company, inheriting the business from his father Thomas. Gas Engineering and Management refers to him as an "eminent" figure in engineering, and a blue plaque dedicated to him describes him as "one of Southwark's greatest industrialists".

Life Livesey was born at Canonbury Terrace, Islington, London, first of the three recorded children of Thomas Livesey (1807–1871) and Ellen Livesey (born Ellen Hawes, 1806–1886). His father accepted a position with the company which became the South Metropolitan Gas Company in 1839. The Livesey family had a home near the company; Livesey and his brother, Frank, grew up with a familiarity with the company and its gas works.

In 1848, he joined the South Metropolitan Gas Company, working as an assistant to his father. He was promoted to "general manager" in 1857 and to "Engineer" in 1862. His innovative design of the water sealed holder brought him accolades. receiving the accolade from King Edward VII at Buckingham Palace on 24 October that year. Livesey was elected a Member of Council of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1906.

He founded the Camberwell Public Library, No. 1 on Old Kent Road in 1890; the library became the Livesey Museum for Children in 1974, which existed until its closure by Southwark Council on 1 March 2008. A statue of Livesey by Frederick Pomeroy, which was previously located at the gas works, is in the grounds of the former museum. The statue is Grade II listed.

Livesey gives his name to the Livesey Hall War Memorial. He married on 13 October 1859 at the church of St. Mary Magdalen, Peckham, to Harriet, the daughter of George Howard, a tallow chandler. While the couple had no children, Livesey taught Sunday school at Christ Church for many years. When he was younger, Livesey often played lively games of football and cricket at The Crystal Palace with the young boys from his Bible studies class. Livesey also donated land for a public recreation area near Old Kent Road.