Wolff, George
1736-1828

A Danish merchant, born in Christiana (now Oslo), of German stock. Following his father's death in 1740 he came to England and in 1767 became a British citizen. With his older brother Ernst he established a successful business trading between England and Scandinavia. Later he was appointed Danish-Norwegian Consul in London. He worshipped at the Danish-Norwegian Church in London, but was also a member and trustee at Wesley's Chapel and a generous benefactor of Methodist causes, including the WM Missionary Society, the Strangers' Friend Society and the Preachers' Friend Society. His second wife was the widow of his fellow-trustee, Capt. John Cheeseman. His obituary in the WM Magazine described him as 'a man of great humility, and ardent piety: and one of the most liberal contributors to the funds of the Methodist Charities in London'. His home in Balham was a favourite retreat of John Wesley in the London area. It was from there that Wesley was taken back to City Road a week before he died. Wesley named him as one of the three executors of his will and he was later appointed to the Committee of Privileges.

Sources
  • WM Magazine, 1828 p.286
  • Peder Borgen, 'George Wolff… Norwegian-born merchant, consul, benevolent Methodist layman, close friend of John Wesley', in Methodist History, 40:1 (October 2001) pp.17-28