Marie Celeste Samaritan Society

This Society was founded in 1791 by Sir William Blizard (1743-1835), a surgeon at the London Hospital, to provide social welfare services for patients of the hospital. The Society provided services that went beyond the London Hospital's resources, such as financial aid, assistance with lodging and travel, the supply of surgical appliances, artificial limbs, and the provision of convalescent facilities.
In 1898, the Society received a large annual subscription from James Hora (1826-1917), a Vice-President of the London Hospital, in memory of his first wife, Marie-Celeste. Hora wanted to honour her memory by donating to a good cause. The name of the Society was changed to the 'Marie Celeste' Samaritan Society in 1899. Hora left £120,000 to the Society in his will and donated money to endow the Marie Celeste maternity wards.
Each application for assistance that the Society received was reviewed by a committee responsible for the allocation of the funds and services, which met weekly to consider each application. The Society made a significant contribution to the work of the London Hospital throughout the years and is still in existence, continuing to apply the philanthropic ideals that led to its development.