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George Foster Peabody (1852–1938) was an American banker and philanthropist. Born in Columbus, Georgia, he and his family moved to Brooklyn in 1866. The young Peabody found work in a wholesale dry goods firm while educating himself through the library of the local YMCA. Through his involvement with the Reformed Church, Peabody met Spencer Trask, and when Trask established his own investment house in 1881 Peabody joined him. Over the following 25 years Peabody amassed a fortune through his various investments, retiring in 1906 to focus on philanthropic work, which included providing the initial funding for the Peabody Awards.Photo: Pach Brothers, restoration: Adam Cuerden