Sir William Henry Goschen

Sir William Henry Goschen, (7 June 1870-16 June 1943) was a British businessman and banker from the prominent Goschen family.

Family early life Born 7 June 1870, William Henry Goschen was the youngest son of the first Viscount Goschen, George Goschen. and then at New College, Oxford. His son, William Henry Goschen, was born 26 Mar 1900 was killed in action 6 May 1944. His second son, John Alexander Goschen, was born on 7 July 1906.

Career and voluntary positions Goschen was quickly made a partner in the family banking firm, Fruhling and Goschen, which was renamed Goschens and Cunliffe in 1920.

Goschen held a number of voluntary positions, including: Royal College of Nursing Honorary Treasurer 1919-1941; Commissioner of Public Works Loan Board; Chair of Royal London Hospital 1931-1943 and he was a Knight of Grace of The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem. He was Warden of the King's Chapel of the Savoy, where he regularly attended and read the lesson for over forty years.

Social life Goschen was a keen cricketer; he played with I Zingari and at the end of 'Canterbury Week' cricket matches took part in 'Old Stagers' amateur dramatics performances. He was also in the amateur dramatics group 'Windsor Strollers' and was a golfer.

Death Goschen died at the London Hospital on 16 Jun 1943, buried in St Augustine's Church, Flimwell, Sussex which was supported by the Goschen family.

Sir William Goschen was heir presumptive to his brother Viscount Goschenn. His oldest son, Brigadier William Henry Goschen of the Scots Guards subsequently became heir presumptive to his uncle. Brigadier William Henry Goschen was killed in action just one year later in Burma, on 6 May 1944 at age 44. Goschen's second son John Alexander Goschen, born on 7 July 1906, became the 3rd Viscount Goschen.

The Times obituary noted:By his death the 'London' has lost more than a chairman. He was a personal friend of every one in the hospital; in spite of the many calls on his time he never appeared to be too busy to attend personally to the smallest detail. He possessed the great gift ofbeing intensely interested in the person to whom he was speaking, and he liked to discuss hospital life and all its aspects with the medical and nursing staffs. He knew every sister and senior member of the hospital staff by name and record, and no one ever asked for his help or advice in vain. His weekly visits to the wards and departments were greatly appreciated by every patient and member of the nursing staff. He will long be remembered with affection and gratitude by all those who had the privilege of working for him.