Brighton Emigration Society

Henry Willett (born Catt in 1823) , was not only a wealthy founding father of Brighton Museum, he was also the founder of the Brighton Emigration Society. It was set up to aid poor people emigrate to Canada.

He was a successful Brewer and property developer and invested in many successful ventures including utility companies in Western Australia. He was also a collector of paintings, porcelain and rock and fossils from the Brighton area that he eventually donated to his collectins to the town of Brighton. His married well-off Frances Coombe, a landed West-Sussex family.

The Brighton Emigration Society ‘s office was located at 47 Market Street, Brighton. Although concentrating on family immigration, some children were sent from the Industrial Schools of Brighton in 1872.