John B. Gest

John Barnard Gest (November 4, 1823 – March 1, 1907) was a banker and lawyer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Biography Gest was born in Philadelphia on November 4, 1823, to merchant John Gest and Ann Barnard, and was educated at various private schools. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he became a member of the university's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa and president He graduated in 1844, studied law under Charles Ingersoll, and was admitted to practice law in 1847. He ran a private practice, becoming "widely known because of his large practice in real estate, patent, and insurance law," as his New York Times obituary put it. In 1852, after the University of Pennsylvania added a law school, he re-enrolled and earned an LL.B. and became part of the largest bank merger of its time. He was also a director of the Mortgage Trust Company of Pennsylvania. a council member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania; and a trustee of Presbyterian Hospital.

In 1895, Gest oversaw the creation of Smith Memorial Arch in Philadelphia as executor of the will of wealthy Philadelphia printer Richard Smith. His bust appears alongside those of prominent Union admirals and generals and the inscription dedicating the arch "in memory of Pennsylvanians who took part in the Civil War."

In 1902, Gest was one of 1,560 "notable Philadelphians" whose portrait appeared in Moses King's Philadelphia and Notable Philadelphians.

Death Gest developed a severe case of bronchitis and died in Philadelphia on March 1, 1907, at the age of 83. His family's papers are held by the University of Pennsylvania archives.