GURNEY, the name of an English family of bankers and merchants, descendants of Hugh de Gournay, who accompanied William the Conqueror to England. At Norwich in 17 7o the brothers John and Henry Gurney founded a banking-house, the business passing in direct line to SAMUEL GURNEY (1786 1856) who assumed the control of the Norwich bank in 1809. Samuel Gurney also took over about the same time the control of the London bill-broking business of Richardson, Overend and Company, founded in i800. At that time bill-discounting was car ried on in a spasmodic fashion by the ordinary merchant in addi tion to his regular business, but Richardson considered that there was room for a London house which should devote itself entirely to the trade in bills. This idea proved an instant success. The title of the firm was changed to Overend, Gurney and Company, and for 4o years it was the greatest discounting-house in the world. The house became known as "the bankers' banker," and secured many of the Bank of England's clients. Samuel Gurney died in 1856. During the latter years of his life philanthropic undertakings monopolized his attention. In 1865 the business of Overend, Gurney and Company was converted into a joint stock company, and in 1866 the firm suspended payment with liabilities amounting to eleven millions sterling.