 He was also a patron to idealists such as Young England and the Spanish Carlists and helped organise the 1851 Great Exhibition.From 1851 to 1858 he chaired the Eastern Steam Navigation Company for Isambard Kingdom Brunel, with Henry having been the "Great Eastern"'s chief fundraiser.In 1853, he purchased Blayney Castle in Castleblayney, County Monaghan, Ireland, from The 12th Baron Blayney.