Handel was a Governor of London's Foundling Hospital: he donated the money from many performances of Messiah to help with this institution's funding, and left a fair-copy of the full score of the work in his will. What was the specific purpose of the charity?

Handel (though born in Germany) is hailed as one of Britain's greatest composers of ceremonial and other music. He moved to England in his twenties and spent the rest of his life there, becoming famous for his oratorios, operas and organ concertos. Handel died in 1759 and he was buried in Westminster Abbey with full state honors.