The son of a Manchester merchant who was a friend of Jabez Bunting, he was the partner of James Wood in a Manchester cotton firm. He helped to set up the conservative newspaper, The Watchman in 1835. As Liberal MP for Knaresborough 1847-1852 and York 1857-1865 and 1868-1871, he supported Irish Disestablishment and voting by ballot. His career illustrates the way in which leading WM laymen moved left politically in the mid nineteenth century.

Entry written by: JHL
Category: Person
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