Joseph Rowntree (educationist)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Rowntree was an English
educationist and shopkeeper
.
Rowntree was born in Scarborough, Yorkshire
, England
, the son of the Quakers John Rowntree (1757–1827) and his wife, Elizabeth Lotherington (1764–1835). In 1822 he started a grocery shop in York. The business was successful. On 3 May 1832 he married Sarah Stephenson (1807–1888). They had five children, of whom one was the chocolate magnate
and social reformer, Joseph Rowntree
.
He made an impact on both the education of Quaker children, the training of male and female teachers and the education of poor children in York
, through the British and Foreign School Society
.
He was active in municipal reform in York. He became an alderman
in 1853. He also helped British Quakers to reform their Marriage Regulations, so that people were no longer automatically "disowned" if they married a non-Quaker.
He died in York on 4 November 1859.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
educationist and shopkeeper
Shopkeeper
A shopkeeper is an individual who owns a shop. Generally, shop employees are not shopkeepers, but are often incorrectly referred to as shopkeepers. Today, a shopkeeper is usually referred to as a manager, though this term could apply to larger firms .*In many south asian languages like Hindi, Urdu,...
.
Rowntree was born in Scarborough, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the son of the Quakers John Rowntree (1757–1827) and his wife, Elizabeth Lotherington (1764–1835). In 1822 he started a grocery shop in York. The business was successful. On 3 May 1832 he married Sarah Stephenson (1807–1888). They had five children, of whom one was the chocolate magnate
Magnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
and social reformer, Joseph Rowntree
Joseph Rowntree (philanthropist)
Joseph Rowntree was a Quaker philanthropist and businessman from York, England. Rowntree is perhaps best known for being a champion of social reform and his time as a chocolatier at family business Rowntree's, one of the most important in Britain...
.
He made an impact on both the education of Quaker children, the training of male and female teachers and the education of poor children in York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, through the British and Foreign School Society
British and Foreign School Society
The British and Foreign School Society offers charitable aid to educational projects in the UK and around the world by funding schools, other charities and educational bodies...
.
He was active in municipal reform in York. He became an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
in 1853. He also helped British Quakers to reform their Marriage Regulations, so that people were no longer automatically "disowned" if they married a non-Quaker.
He died in York on 4 November 1859.
Source
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography article by Edward H. Milligan, ‘Rowntree, Joseph (1801–1859)’, 2004 http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/24231 accessed 2 Jan 2007