Morgan Grenfell and Co Limited , merchant bankers

George Peabody, a partner in Peabody Riggs and Company, merchants of Baltimore, with offices at 31 Moorgate, established his own business as a merchant at the same address in 1838. He ended his association with the American firm in ca.1843 and removed to 6 Warnford Court in 1845. In 1852 he took Mr. O. C. Gooch into partnership and the style of the firm changed to George Peabody and Company, merchants.

In 1854 it moved to 22 Old Broad Street. In the same year Junius Spencer Morgan became a partner and upon Peabody's retirement in 1864 the style of the firm became J S Morgan and Company (London Directories refer to it as Junius Spencer Morgan and Company until 1895). Edward Grenfell became a full partner in 1904 and the style Morgan Grenfell was adopted on 1 January 1910. Between 1918 and 1934 the bank was a private unlimited company, and in 1934 it became a private limited company.