[4] By a deed dated 8 December 1703, he gave 59 acres (24 ha) of land at Taunton to be used for a schoolhouse, whenever the people should desire the establishment of the Church of England.

[5][6] In 1704,[7] at the age of 36,[3] he returned to London[5] and helped to obtain an act of Parliament giving a bounty on the importation of tar from the colonies.

In 1712, he obtained a role in Trinity House, Deptford, a private corporation that combined public responsibilities with charitable purposes.

Brocklesby also states that on some occasion, he obtained a change in the colonial regulations in the interest of English hatters, and refused to take any reward from his clients except a hat.

[5] While living in Rotherhithe and regularly travelling into London to engage in his business interests (a journey of about 4 miles (6.4 km)), Coram was frequently shocked by the sight of infants exposed in the streets, often in a dying state.

[9] A charter, signed by King George II, was at last obtained for the Foundling Hospital in 1739 and considerable sums were subscribed.

Great interest was excited in the undertaking, especially by William Hogarth, who in May 1740 presented his fine portrait of Coram to the hospital.

Hogarth also presented a picture of Moses with Pharaoh's daughter, and gave 157 tickets in the lottery for the "March to Finchley", one of which won the prize.

During his time in America, he lived and worked with Native Americans leading to an interest in promoting and supporting their education: specifically the girls.

Richard Brocklesby describes him as a rather hot-tempered, downright sailorlike man, of unmistakable honesty and sterling goodness of heart.

In 1955, the building was sold and Coram's remains were exhumed and moved to the Church of St Andrew, Holborn in London.

He painted a famous portrait of Coram (1740; reproduced in stipple by William Nutter [1754-1802] for R. Cribb in 1796) which can now be viewed at the Foundling Museum in London.

[20] Together with some of his fellow artists, Hogarth decorated the Governors' Court Room, which contains paintings by Francis Hayman, Thomas Gainsborough and Richard Wilson.

[21] He contributed paintings for the benefit of the Foundation, and the Foundling Hospital became the first art gallery in London open to the public.

[22] Handel allowed a concert performance of Messiah to benefit the foundation, and donated the manuscript of the Hallelujah Chorus to the hospital.

The book was adapted into a play by Helen Edmundson,[26] which had its world premiere at the Royal National Theatre in London in November 2005 and subsequently had a brief run on Broadway.