T R Ferens.

In the University of Hull's 75th Anniversary year, we profile T R Ferens ­ the man whose generosity paved the way for the birth of the University.

T R Ferens was born in County Durham in 1847 and came to Hull as confidential clerk to James Reckitt at the age of 21. His energy, thoroughness and eager interest in new developments led to his rapid progress through Reckitts. When he died in 1930 he was Chairman of Reckitt and Sons Ltd, as it was then known.

T R Ferens was the Liberal Member of Parliament for East Hull from 1906 to 1918, and in 1912 was made a member of the Privy Council and also High Steward of Hull.

During his lifetime he accumulated considerable wealth but he had no taste for luxury, regarding the possession of riches as a stewardship. From the time he first earned a salary he gave one tenth of his income to charity, and in later years much more than that. His strong sense of pride in Hull and its people is reflected in gifts which totalled more than £1 million ­ an enormous sum even by today's standards. His gift of £250,000 which enabled the foundation of the University College, now the University of Hull, is one of the the best publicised of his donations, and he further endowed the College with £24,000 to mark the beginnings of higher education in the city.