About Robert Dingley
Lived 1710 – 1781 (aged 70–71). Robert Dingley was a British merchant, banker and philanthropist.
Robert Dingley (baptised 12 September 1710 – 1781) was an English merchant and banker, known as a philanthropist. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1747.
The son of Robert and Susanna, he and his younger brother Charles (1711-1769) were significant figures in Anglo-Russian trade in the middle of the 18th century. He joined the Society of Dilettanti in 1736.
Associated with the London Foundling Hospital as an inspector, Dingley pushed to found the Magdalen Hospital in Whitechapel that was founded in 1758.
Dingley was a collector of coins, drawings and engraved gems. He was also an architect who designed ornamental buildings, in particular for West Wycombe Park.
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Robert Dingley's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Robert Dingley?
philanthropist
When was Robert Dingley born?
Robert Dingley was born in 1710.
When did Robert Dingley die?
Robert Dingley died in 1781.
What was Robert Dingley's occupation?
Robert Dingley was a merchant, banker and philanthropist.
What nationality was Robert Dingley?
Robert Dingley was British.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Robert Dingley (FRS)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Robert Dingley. https://biography.guide/robert-dingley-merchant/
MLA: "Robert Dingley." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/robert-dingley-merchant/.
Chicago: "Robert Dingley." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/robert-dingley-merchant/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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