In 1739, the London Foundling Hospital received its royal charter, establishing a vital institution dedicated to caring for abandoned and destitute children. This hospital not only provided shelter and education but also highlighted the growing awareness of social responsibility in 18th-century Britain. The Foundling Hospital became a model for similar institutions, influencing child welfare practices and policies.

Its blend of charity, art, music, and child welfare influenced Georgian cultural life and later literary representations of abandoned children. Poets like William Blake and William Wordsworth addressed themes of innocence and social justice, reflecting the hospital's impact on societal values.