As a boy he had bright red hair and it is recorded that, one day
in the streets of Norwich, a number of boys followed him pointing to
his red locks and saying, "Look at that boy; he's got a bonfire on top
of his head", and in disgust John Gurney went to the barber's, had his
head shaved, and went home in a wig. However, he grew up a remarkably
attractive-looking young man.
He was tenant of Earlham Hall, near Norwich, of which he took a
lease in 1786 from Bacon Frank. Subsequently he purchased an estate in
the parish of Earlham. In 1803 he was admitted as a partner---together
with his brothers, Richard and Joseph---in the Norwich Bank by his
cousin, Bartlett Gurney.
 

Source: Leo van de Pas