Joshua Walmsley
Encyclopedia
Sir Joshua Walmsley was an English businessman and Liberal Party
politician.
on 29 September 1794, and educated at Knowsley
, Lancashire
, and Eden Hall, Westmoreland
. On the death of his father in 1807 he became a teacher in Eden Hall school, and on returning to Liverpool in 1811 took a teaching position in Mr. Knowles's school. He entered the service of a corn merchant in 1814, and at the end of his engagement went into the same business himself.
He was an early advocate of the repeal of the duty on corn, and was afterwards an active worker with Richard Cobden
, John Bright
, and others in the Anti-Cornlaw League. In 1826 he took the presidency of the Liverpool Mechanics' Institution. At about the same time Walmsley got to know George Stephenson
, in whose railway schemes he was interested, and with whom he joined in purchasing the Snibstone estate, near Ashby-de-la-Zouch
, where rich seams of coal were found. He was elected a member of the Liverpool town council in 1835, and worked to improve the police, sanitarion and education of the borough. He was appointed mayor in November 1838, and knighted on the occasion of Queen Victoria's marriage.
With Lord Palmerston he unsuccessfully contested Liverpool in the Liberal interest in June 1841. He retired to Ranton Abbey
, Staffordshire
, in 1843, and at the general election of 1847 was elected M.P. for Leicester
, but was unseated on petition. He started the National Reform Association about this time, and was its president and chief organiser for many years. In 1849 he was returned as M.P. for Bolton
in Lancashire
, but in 1852 exchanged that seat for Leicester, where his efforts on behalf of the framework knitters had made him popular. He lost his seat in 1857, and he practically retired from public life, although he retained the presidency of the National Sunday League from 1856 to 1869.
He died on 17 November 1871 at his residence at Bournemouth
, leaving issue. His wife, whom he married in 1815, nee Madeline Mulleneux, survived him by two years.
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.
Life
The son of John Walmsley, a builder, was born in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
on 29 September 1794, and educated at Knowsley
Knowsley
-Places:in England*Knowsley, Merseyside, a village.**Knowsley Safari Park*Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley, a local government district of Merseyside.*Knowsley Safari Park, a zoological tourist attraction....
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, and Eden Hall, Westmoreland
Westmoreland
Westmoreland is a historic county in England. It may also refer to:-Places:Australia*Westmoreland County, New South WalesCanada*Westmorland County, New BrunswickJamaica*Westmoreland, Jamaica, a parishNew Zealand...
. On the death of his father in 1807 he became a teacher in Eden Hall school, and on returning to Liverpool in 1811 took a teaching position in Mr. Knowles's school. He entered the service of a corn merchant in 1814, and at the end of his engagement went into the same business himself.
He was an early advocate of the repeal of the duty on corn, and was afterwards an active worker with Richard Cobden
Richard Cobden
Richard Cobden was a British manufacturer and Radical and Liberal statesman, associated with John Bright in the formation of the Anti-Corn Law League as well as with the Cobden-Chevalier Treaty...
, John Bright
John Bright
John Bright , Quaker, was a British Radical and Liberal statesman, associated with Richard Cobden in the formation of the Anti-Corn Law League. He was one of the greatest orators of his generation, and a strong critic of British foreign policy...
, and others in the Anti-Cornlaw League. In 1826 he took the presidency of the Liverpool Mechanics' Institution. At about the same time Walmsley got to know George Stephenson
George Stephenson
George Stephenson was an English civil engineer and mechanical engineer who built the first public railway line in the world to use steam locomotives...
, in whose railway schemes he was interested, and with whom he joined in purchasing the Snibstone estate, near Ashby-de-la-Zouch
Ashby-de-la-Zouch
Ashby-de-la-Zouch, — Zouch being pronounced "Zoosh" — often shortened to Ashby, is a small market town and civil parish in North West Leicestershire, England, within the National Forest. It is twinned with Pithiviers in north-central France....
, where rich seams of coal were found. He was elected a member of the Liverpool town council in 1835, and worked to improve the police, sanitarion and education of the borough. He was appointed mayor in November 1838, and knighted on the occasion of Queen Victoria's marriage.
With Lord Palmerston he unsuccessfully contested Liverpool in the Liberal interest in June 1841. He retired to Ranton Abbey
Ranton Abbey
Ranton Abbey or Ranton Priory was an Augustinian Priory in Ranton, Staffordshire, England, built c.1150 by Robert fitz Noel of Ellenhall. Ranton was dissolved by the Act of 1536. Only the 14th century tower and part of the south wall remain, although the cloisters and other parts are known to have...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, in 1843, and at the general election of 1847 was elected M.P. for Leicester
Leicester (UK Parliament constituency)
Leicester was a parliamentary borough in Leicestershire, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1295 until 1918, when it was split into three single-member divisions.-History:...
, but was unseated on petition. He started the National Reform Association about this time, and was its president and chief organiser for many years. In 1849 he was returned as M.P. for Bolton
Bolton (UK Parliament constituency)
Bolton was a borough constituency centred on the town of Bolton in the county of Lancashire. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons for the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the bloc vote system....
in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, but in 1852 exchanged that seat for Leicester, where his efforts on behalf of the framework knitters had made him popular. He lost his seat in 1857, and he practically retired from public life, although he retained the presidency of the National Sunday League from 1856 to 1869.
He died on 17 November 1871 at his residence at Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
, leaving issue. His wife, whom he married in 1815, nee Madeline Mulleneux, survived him by two years.