John Julius Angerstein

John Julius Angerstein was a Russian-born British businessman and art collector who worked as an underwriter for Lloyd's of London. It was the prospect that his collection of paintings was about to be sold by his estate in 1824 that suddenly galvanised King George IV and British Prime Minister Lord Liverpool into purchasing his collection for the nation, which led to the founding of the National Gallery in Angerstein's house at 100 Pall Mall, London.