Joseph Woodhead
Encyclopedia
Joseph Woodhead was an English newspaper proprietor and editor and a Liberal
politician.
Woodhead was the youngest son of Godfrey Woodhead, a currier and leather merchant of Holmfirth
. He was educated at private schools but grew up in a home where books and reading were valued. At fifteen he was apprenticed to a woollen manufacturer working all day and studying until late at night. He was a teetotaller and spoke at temperance meeting. In 1851 with a group of like-minded local Liberals he founded the Huddersfield Examiner newspaper which was produced in a room over a shop in Kirkgate. He made it into a leading exponent of non-conformist liberalism and in 1871 it became a daily evening paper. Woodhead also established the Dewsbury Reporter. In 1868, he was elected to Huddersfield Town Council and became an Alderman of Huddersfield
and was twice Mayor of Huddersfield in 1876 and 1877. Huddersfield Town Hall, known as a concert venue, was sited opposite his newspaper offices and in 1885 he was president of the Glee and Madrigal Society - now the Huddersfield Singers. He was also a J. P.
In 1885 Woodhead was elected Member of Parliament
for Spen Valley
. He held the seat until 1892. He is said to have turned down a baronetcy as he had no wish to be known as other than Joe Woodhead. In 1898 he was awarded Freedom of the City of Huddersfield.
In the 1891 Census of Huddersfield
Woodhead is listed as a 66-year old Newspaper proprietor, Justice of the Peace and Member of Parliament living at Longdenholme, West Hill, Huddersfield with his four sons.
Woodhead lived at Longdenholme, Huddersfield and at Preswylfa, Conway. He died in Huddersfield at the age of 89.
Woodhead married Catherine Woodhead in 1853. Their son Sir German Sims Woodhead
became an eminent pathologist. Another son Ernest Woodhead played rugby for England.
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician.
Woodhead was the youngest son of Godfrey Woodhead, a currier and leather merchant of Holmfirth
Holmfirth
Holmfirth is a small town located on the A6024 Woodhead Road in the Holme Valley, within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England. Centred upon the confluence of the Holme and Ribble rivers, Holmfirth is south of Huddersfield and from Glossop. It mostly consists of...
. He was educated at private schools but grew up in a home where books and reading were valued. At fifteen he was apprenticed to a woollen manufacturer working all day and studying until late at night. He was a teetotaller and spoke at temperance meeting. In 1851 with a group of like-minded local Liberals he founded the Huddersfield Examiner newspaper which was produced in a room over a shop in Kirkgate. He made it into a leading exponent of non-conformist liberalism and in 1871 it became a daily evening paper. Woodhead also established the Dewsbury Reporter. In 1868, he was elected to Huddersfield Town Council and became an Alderman of Huddersfield
Huddersfield
Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
and was twice Mayor of Huddersfield in 1876 and 1877. Huddersfield Town Hall, known as a concert venue, was sited opposite his newspaper offices and in 1885 he was president of the Glee and Madrigal Society - now the Huddersfield Singers. He was also a J. P.
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...
In 1885 Woodhead was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Spen Valley
Spen Valley (UK Parliament constituency)
Spen Valley was a parliamentary constituency in the valley of the River Spen in West Yorkshire. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.-History:...
. He held the seat until 1892. He is said to have turned down a baronetcy as he had no wish to be known as other than Joe Woodhead. In 1898 he was awarded Freedom of the City of Huddersfield.
In the 1891 Census of Huddersfield
Census in the United Kingdom
Coincident full censuses have taken place in the different jurisdictions of the United Kingdom every ten years since 1801, with the exceptions of 1941 and in both Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State in 1921; simultaneous censuses were taken in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, with...
Woodhead is listed as a 66-year old Newspaper proprietor, Justice of the Peace and Member of Parliament living at Longdenholme, West Hill, Huddersfield with his four sons.
Woodhead lived at Longdenholme, Huddersfield and at Preswylfa, Conway. He died in Huddersfield at the age of 89.
Woodhead married Catherine Woodhead in 1853. Their son Sir German Sims Woodhead
German Sims Woodhead
Sir German Sims Woodhead, KBE was an English pathologist, born at Huddersfield. He studied in Huddersfield College, Edinburgh University, and in Berlin and Vienna. In 1899 he was made professor of pathology in Cambridge University. At various times he was president of the Royal Medical Society,...
became an eminent pathologist. Another son Ernest Woodhead played rugby for England.