Page:Dictionary of National Biography, Second Supplement, volume 1.djvu/443

 society and in conservative political circles, although he held no official position. Queen Victoria, whose acquaintance he made in Lord Beaconsfield's service, long consulted him confidentially on public affairs, and he was her frequent guest.

Rowton, who combined vivacity and exceptional sociability with tact, formed friendships among all classes. A serious philanthropic endeavour occupied much of his attention in his last years. In November 1889 he accepted the invitation of Sir Edward Cecil Guinness, afterwards Lord Iveagh, to become a trustee of the Guinness Trust Fund of 250,000l. for the provision of artisans' dwellings, 200,000l. to be allotted to London and 50,000l. to Dublin. While examining as a Guinness trustee the conditions of life in the poor districts of London, Rowton, impressed by the unhealthy and squalid character of the common lodging-houses, resolved to provide a new form of poor man's hotel, where lodging, catering, and the advantages of a club should be offered at the lowest price. The scheme lay outside the scope of the Guinness Trust, which Rowton actively administered. After consultation with his cousin, Mr. Cecil Ashley, and Sir Richard Farrant, directors of the Artisans' Dwellings Company, who warned Rowton that the hotel scheme could not prove a safe investment, he himself undertook to devote 30,000l. of his own money to the experiment. A site was secured in Bond Street, Vauxhall, and building was begun. Lord Rowton made himself responsible for every detail. The Vauxhall house, accommodating 447 persons, was opened on 31 Dec. 1892, and in the face of many difficulties and discouragements was organised on a satisfactory basis. The success of this first 'Rowton House' justified the extension of the enterprise, and in March 1894 a company, Rowton Houses, Limited, was incorporated with a subscribed capital of 75,000l., of which 30,000l. in shares was allotted to Lord Rowton in return for the money he had advanced. Lord Rowton became chairman, with Sir Richard Farrant, Mr. Cecil Ashley, and Mr. Walter Long, M.P., as directors. The capital was subsequently raised to 450,000l. Rowton Houses were erected in King's Cross (1896), Newington Butts (1897), Hammersmith (1899), Whitechapel (1902), and Arlington Road, Camden Town (1905). The last contained 1087 beds. The total number in the six Rowton Houses exceeded 5000. The catering produced little profit, but the income derived from lodging accommodation provided a dividend. Rowton approached the problem without thought of gain, but the realisation of a profit is a tribute to his sagacity and no disparagement of his benevolent intention. Since his death the company's prosperity has been uninterrupted and Rowton Houses have been imitated in the great towns of Great Britain and in Europe and America.

Rowton was made K.C.V.O. in 1897, and was sworn of the privy council in 1900. He suffered frequent attacks of illness, and died of pneumonia at his residence in Berkeley Square, London, on 9 Nov. 1903. He was buried at Kensal Green. He was unmarried, and the peerage became extinct at his death. He left his property to Lieut.-colonel Noel Corry, grenadier guards, son of his elder brother, Armar Corry, at one time in the foreign office, who died in 1893.

Cartoon portraits by 'Spy' appeared in 'Vanity Fair' in 1877 and in 1880 (with Lord Beaconsfield).

 CORY, JOHN (1828–1910), philanthropist, coal-owner, and ship-owner, born on 28 March 1828, at Bideford, Devonshire, was eldest of five sons of Richard Cory (1790-1882) by Sarah (d. 5 Oct. 1868), daughter of John Woollacott, both of Bideford. The family traces descent through Walter Cory (d. 1530) of Cory in West Putford, Devonshire, to Sir Walter de Cory, who in the reign of King John married the eventual co-heiress of the Levingtons in Cumberland ( Peerage, 1910, s.v. Cory). After trading for years with Cardiff in coasters, Richard Cory settled in the town about 1831, opening a ship-chandler's store, to which he soon added a ship- broking business. About 1835 he began exporting coal, first as agent and later on his own account. In 1844 his two eldest sons, John and Richard (b. 1830), joined him in the business, thence carried on under the name of Richard Cory & Sons, and from 1859, when the father retired, as Cory Brothers. The firm's shipping and coal-exporting business steadily increased, and the universal demand for South Wales steam coal for navigation led John Cory to conceive the idea of establishing foreign depots in all parts, one of the earliest being established at Port Said on the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. At the time of 