EDWARD COLSTON AND THE DOLPHIN SOCIETY
Schools, almshouses and charities founded by Edward Colston (1636-1721), bear his name today, along with Bristol’s concert hall, an office block, a dozen streets and a statue in the centre of the city, which is adorned by four dolphins. Colston adopted the dolphin as his lucky emblem after one of his uninsured ships limped profitably back into port, thanks to a young dolphin which became wedged in a hole which had threatened to sink his ship.
The Dolphin Society was founded in 1749 by 18 gentlemen members of the Colston Society who commemorated Edward Colston’s birthday by dining at the Cock tavern in Corn Street, when they made a charitable collection for the poor.
Ever since, our charity has launched an annual appeal, which culminates in a joint annual service with two other Colston Societies, the Anchor and the Grateful, at St Stephens Church at 11am on Colston Day, which this year is Friday 12 November 2010, and to which Dolphin’s supporters and beneficiaries are cordially invited.