Bravo Beyer! Celebrating our historic benefactor’s 200th birthday
13 May 2013
On 14 May 2013, we are celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of The University of Manchester’s greatest ever personal benefactor.
Charles Frederick Beyer (1813 – 1876) donated the current equivalent of almost £10 million to the University’s predecessor institutions, including funds for an endowed professorship in Applied Mathematics which still exists, and contributions towards the construction of the main Oxford Road site which includes the building bearing his name.
Born in Germany to humble beginnings, Beyer won a scholarship to attend university before coming to Manchester in 1834 to work as a locomotive engineer. Twenty years later he founded the pioneering firm Beyer, Peacock & Company which produced almost 8,000 locomotives until its closure in 1966.
Beyer was heavily involved in the economic and educational development of the city, including the Mechanics Institute, later UMIST, and Owens College, later the Victoria University of Manchester. His philanthropic support of Owens College, in particular, was instrumental in the college making its move from its original site at Quay Street down to Oxford Road.
As well as bequeathing funds towards construction, Beyer contributed to scholarships and professorships, including the Beyer Chair in Applied Mathematics. This Professorship was first held by Arthur Schuster from 1881-1888 and has been continually held ever since – Prof David Abrahams has been the current Chair since 1998.
The 200th anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate both Beyer’s birth and his legacy. Beyer remains a major figure in the history of engineering and economic development in Manchester and was pioneering and far-sighted in his deep philanthropic support for education and this University