Draft:Robert Prance

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Draft:Robert Prance - Wikipedia

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Robert Prance (1798-1869) son of Hannah (nee Newcomen) and William Prance travelled by horse from Plymouth to London when aged 24, stopping at Poole, Blandford, Shaftesbury, Stourhead, then stopping at Deptford Inn near Aymesbury (to see Stonehenge) before proceeding to a stop in Basingstoke and thence to London. During his journey he frequently stopped to admire the houses and gardens of a number of properties along the route.

Robert became a member of the London Stock Exchange in 1824. After a time, he gave up acting as a Broker and became solely a Jobber. He was one of the Members, who had the right of carrying on business as both Broker and Jobber.

In 1849 he led, along with Horatio Love, the exposure of the frauds of George Hudson in reference to which a presentation of Silver Plate was made to Robert Prance by the Company, chiefly concerned "The York, Newcastle & Berwick" as an acknowledgement of his important services to the Company, in originating the investigation into its affairs. George Hudson controlled a significant part of the railway network in the 1840s, became known as "The Railway King" — a title conferred on him by Sydney Smith in 1844. Hudson played a significant role in linking London to Edinburgh by rail, carrying out the first major merging of railway companies (the Midland Railway) and developing his home city of York into a major railway junction. He also represented Sunderland in the House of Commons. Hudson's success was however built on dubious financial practices and he frequently paid shareholders out of capital rather than money the company had earned.

Co-incidently, both Robert Prance and George Hudson sons were at Harrow School at the same time and Robert wrote to his son Clement: Poor Hudson, he is now driven from the last of his railways and all his prospects in life are blasted. I pity his sons. Do they know that it was your father, who was so instrumental in exposing him? As to young Hudson, I particularly wish you not to avoid any opportunity of showing him kindness. I have reason to know that his father feels no animosity against me personally for what I felt to be a public duty.

Robert Prance married Sarah Rooke in August 1825 at Charles the Martyr, Plymouth Devon. Sarah's parents came from Appledore, Devon. Robert and Sarah Prance had the following children : Reginald, John (died young). Charles (died aged 46), Mary (died aged 12), Helen, Edith, Clement and Robert.