The History and Design of the Foundling Hospital: With a Memoir of the Founder

Captain Coram's Foundling Hospital was opened in London in 1741 for 'the maintenance and education of exposed and deserted young children'. Hogarth was a governor of the hospital - he donated several pictures, including his portrait of Coram - as was Handel, whose famous performances of his oratorio Messiah were given there from 1750 to raise funds. John Brownlow (1800–73), himself a foundling, became secretary of the hospital from 1849 until his retirement. He introduced improvements to th...