Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Corner, George Richard
CORNER, GEORGE RICHARD (1801–1863), antiquary, born in 1801 in the parish of Christ Church, Blackfriars Road, London, was the eldest of the six children of Richard Corner, a solicitor in Southwark, by Maria, daughter of Mr. James Brierley. He was educated at Gordon House, Kentish Town, and followed his father's profession with success. About 1835 he was appointed vestry clerk of the parish of St. Olave, Southwark; during the prevalence of the cholera in that parish he displayed great activity. On 28 Nov. 1833 Corner was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and from this time forward he published numerous archæological papers, many of them connected with the history of Southwark. His first communication to the Society of Antiquaries was made on 9 Jan. 1834, when he pointed out the distinction, not previously recognised, between the three manors of Southwark (see the memoir in the Archæologia, xxv. 620). He contributed other papers to the ‘Archæologia’ from 1835 to 1860.
Corner was one of the original members of the Numismatic Society of London, founded 1836 (see list of members in Numismatic Journal), but apparently did not make a special study of coins. He was also a member of the British Archæological Association from the time of its establishment in 1843; he exhibited numerous antiquities before this society, and contributed accounts of them to its journal (a list is given in Journ. Brit. Arch. Assoc. xx. 184–6). He took much interest in the Archæological Society of Surrey, and contributed to its ‘Proceedings,’ as also to the ‘Sussex Archæological Collections,’ vol. vi., the ‘South London Journal’ (1857), and the ‘Collectanea Topographica et Genealogica,’ vols. v. and vii. He was also an occasional contributor to the ‘Gentleman's Magazine.’ Corner published separately:
- ‘A Concise Account of the Local Government of the Borough of Southwark,’ Southwark, 1836, 8vo.
- ‘The Rental of St. Olave and St. John, Southwark,’ 1838, 4to; a second edit. in 1851.
Corner is described as a man of social habits and of kind and agreeable manners. Towards the close of his life ‘he fell into difficulties occasioned … by family misfortunes.’ He died suddenly on 31 Oct. 1863, at Queen's Row, Camberwell, and was buried in Nunhead cemetery, Peckham. Corner married in 1828 Sarah, youngest daughter of Timothy Leach of Clapham, by whom he had two sons and two daughters who survived him. His brother, Arthur Bloxham Corner (d. 17 Jan. 1861), was her majesty's coroner and attorney in the court of Queen's Bench. Another brother, Richard James Corner, was appointed chief justice of her majesty's settlement on the Gold Coast, and was joint author (with A. B. Corner) of Corner's ‘Crown Practice,’ 1844.
[Gent. Mag. xv. 3rd ser. (1863), 808, xvi. 3rd ser. (1864), 528–30; Journal of British Archæological Association, xx. 181–6; Proceedings Soc. Antiquaries, ii. 2nd ser. (1864), 392.]