John Arnott
Encyclopedia
Sir John Arnott, 1st Baronet JP
(26 July 1814 – 28 March 1898) was an Irish
entrepreneur
and a major figure in the commercial and political spheres of late-19th century Cork
. He was also founder of the Arnotts department chain
.
, Fife
, he was the son of John Arnott and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander Paton. Arnott arrived in Cork in 1837 to work at Grants of Patrick Street; he later opened his own shop which failed to prosper. After starting a business in Belfast
which prospered he returned to Cork and opened a drapery store which he later expanded across Ireland and Britain, including Arnotts in Henry Street, Dublin and in Glasgow
(where the name continued until the early-1990s).
and Arnotts Brewery Cork. He acquired the Irish Times and The Northern Whig
newspapers, though he later disposed of the Whig over disputes relating to its editorial policy
. His family retained a connection with the paper until the 1960s, although they had disposed of their interest earlier.
Arnott was elected Lord Mayor
of Cork three times, in 1859, 1860 and 1861. He was Justice of the Peace
for Cork City and County and served as Member of Parliament for Kinsale
between 1859 and 1863. Arnott was created a Knight Bachelor
by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
in 1859 and became a baronet
, of Baily, in the County of Dublin on 12 February 1896.
He was a philanthropist and was heavily involved into an investigation in the treatment of children at the Cork workhouse. In this period the Irish Poor Law Relief Bill was going through Parliament and he sat on the select committee. There is a plaque on St Patrick's Bridge in Cork that commemorates its opening by Arnott on 12 December 1861.
He married Mary, the daughter of John James McKinlay. See Arnott Baronets
for his descendants.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(26 July 1814 – 28 March 1898) was an Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
and a major figure in the commercial and political spheres of late-19th century Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
. He was also founder of the Arnotts department chain
Arnotts (Ireland)
Arnotts is the oldest and largest department store in Dublin, Ireland. The company has two stores in Dublin. Its flagship store is located on Henry Street on the northside of the city centre, and there is a smaller store selling mainly shoes in an outlet in Stillorgan Shopping Centre in south...
.
Background
Born in AuchtermuchtyAuchtermuchty
Auchtermuchty is a town in Fife, Scotland, situated beside Pitlour Hill nine miles north of Glenrothes. Until 1975 it was a royal burgh, established under charter of King James V in 1517. There is evidence of human habitation in the area dating back over 2,000 years, and the Romans are known to...
, Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
, he was the son of John Arnott and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Alexander Paton. Arnott arrived in Cork in 1837 to work at Grants of Patrick Street; he later opened his own shop which failed to prosper. After starting a business in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
which prospered he returned to Cork and opened a drapery store which he later expanded across Ireland and Britain, including Arnotts in Henry Street, Dublin and in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
(where the name continued until the early-1990s).
Career
Among the other businesses he started or was involved in included Cash and Company Cork, Baldoyle and Cork Race Park Meetings, the City of Cork Steamship Company, Passage Docks Shipbuilding Company, the Bristol General Steam Navigation CompanyBristol General Steam Navigation Company
The Bristol General Steam Navigation Company provided shipping services between Bristol and ports in southern Ireland, principally Cork from 1821 to 1980. There were also services to other destinations including ports in southern England, south Wales and France....
and Arnotts Brewery Cork. He acquired the Irish Times and The Northern Whig
The Northern Whig
The Northern Whig is a bar housed in a historical building in Belfast, Northern Ireland.It is situated in the Cathedral Quarter, just to the north of the city centre...
newspapers, though he later disposed of the Whig over disputes relating to its editorial policy
Editorial
An opinion piece is an article, published in a newspaper or magazine, that mainly reflects the author's opinion about the subject. Opinion pieces are featured in many periodicals.-Editorials:...
. His family retained a connection with the paper until the 1960s, although they had disposed of their interest earlier.
Arnott was elected Lord Mayor
Lord Mayor
The Lord Mayor is the title of the Mayor of a major city, with special recognition.-Commonwealth of Nations:* In Australia it is a political position. Australian cities with Lord Mayors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth, Sydney, and Wollongong...
of Cork three times, in 1859, 1860 and 1861. He was Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Cork City and County and served as Member of Parliament for Kinsale
Kinsale (UK Parliament constituency)
Kinsale was a United Kingdom Parliament constituency, in Ireland, returning one MP. It was an original constituency represented in Parliament when the Union of Great Britain and Ireland took effect on 1 January 1801.-Boundaries:...
between 1859 and 1863. Arnott was created a Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
in 1859 and became a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
, of Baily, in the County of Dublin on 12 February 1896.
He was a philanthropist and was heavily involved into an investigation in the treatment of children at the Cork workhouse. In this period the Irish Poor Law Relief Bill was going through Parliament and he sat on the select committee. There is a plaque on St Patrick's Bridge in Cork that commemorates its opening by Arnott on 12 December 1861.
He married Mary, the daughter of John James McKinlay. See Arnott Baronets
Arnott Baronets
The Arnott Baronetcy, of Woodlands St Anne in Shandon in the County of Cork, is a title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 12 February 1896 for the Irish entrepreneur and philanthropist John Arnott....
for his descendants.