Sir Frederick Mappin, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Frederick Thorpe Mappin, 1st Baronet, known as Frederick Mappin (16 May 1821 – 19 March 1910) was an English factory owner and Liberal
politician
.
Born in Sheffield
, Mappin worked for his father's cutlery
company from the age of thirteen, running it alone after his father's death in 1841. In 1851, he became the youngest ever Master Cutler
, but after a dispute with his younger brother, he left the firm, which later became part of Mappin and Webb
.
Mappin then bought a steelworks and implemented machine working, despite a strike
by employees. In 1854, he was elected to Sheffield Town Council
as a Liberal
, stepping down in 1857. In the 1860s, Mappin became a director of the Sheffield Gas and Light Company, and of the Midland Railway
.
In 1876, Mappin was re-elected to the Town Council, and served as the Mayor of Sheffield
in 1877-8. In 1878, he was a juror at the Paris Universal Exhibition, and was awarded the Légion d'honneur
. At the 1880 general election
, he was elected as Member of Parliament
for East Retford
, while remaining on Sheffield Town Council until 1883.
Mappin was a major supporter of the creation of the Sheffield Central Technical School
. Also in the 1880s, he gave a bequest to create the Mappin Art Gallery.
Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
, Mappin's Parliamentary seat was abolished, and he moved instead to represent Hallamshire
, a post he held until 1905. That year, he supported the formation of the University of Sheffield
, and was created its first Pro-Chancellor. The University's Sir Frederick Mappin Building
is named after him.
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Born in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, Mappin worked for his father's cutlery
Cutlery
Cutlery refers to any hand implement used in preparing, serving, and especially eating food in the Western world. It is more usually known as silverware or flatware in the United States, where cutlery can have the more specific meaning of knives and other cutting instruments. This is probably the...
company from the age of thirteen, running it alone after his father's death in 1841. In 1851, he became the youngest ever Master Cutler
Master Cutler
The Master Cutler is the head of the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire established in 1624. Their role is to act as an ambassador of industry in Sheffield, England. The Master Cutler is elected by the freemen of the company on the first Monday of September of each year and the position taken in the...
, but after a dispute with his younger brother, he left the firm, which later became part of Mappin and Webb
Mappin and Webb
Mappin & Webb is a company originally founded in Sheffield, England. The company is a noted firm of Silversmiths and formerly cutlery manufactures with roots back to 1774 when Joseph Mappin founded the firm. The company is now a retail jeweller, and Royal Warrant holder.-Arundel & Mappin:The firm...
.
Mappin then bought a steelworks and implemented machine working, despite a strike
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
by employees. In 1854, he was elected to Sheffield Town Council
Sheffield City Council
Sheffield City Council is the city council for the metropolitan borough of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It consists of 84 councillors, elected to represent 28 wards, each with three councillors...
as a Liberal
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...
, stepping down in 1857. In the 1860s, Mappin became a director of the Sheffield Gas and Light Company, and of the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
.
In 1876, Mappin was re-elected to the Town Council, and served as the Mayor of Sheffield
Lord Mayor of Sheffield
The Lord Mayor of Sheffield is a ceremonial post held by a member of Sheffield City Council. They are elected annually by the council. The post originated in 1843, with the appointment of William Jeffcock as the first Mayor of Sheffield...
in 1877-8. In 1878, he was a juror at the Paris Universal Exhibition, and was awarded the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
. At the 1880 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1880
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...
, he was elected as 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 East Retford
East Retford (UK Parliament constituency)
East Retford was a parliamentary constituency in Nottinghamshire, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons for the first time in 1316, and continuously from 1571 until 1885, when the constituency was abolished...
, while remaining on Sheffield Town Council until 1883.
Mappin was a major supporter of the creation of the Sheffield Central Technical School
Sheffield Central Technical School
The former Sheffield Central Technical School was housed in the collection of buildings now called Leopold Square in the city centre of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England...
. Also in the 1880s, he gave a bequest to create the Mappin Art Gallery.
Under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was a piece of electoral reform legislation that redistributed the seats in the House of Commons, introducing the concept of equally populated constituencies, in an attempt to equalise representation across...
, Mappin's Parliamentary seat was abolished, and he moved instead to represent Hallamshire
Hallamshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Hallamshire was a Parliamentary constituency covering the Hallamshire district of England. The constituency was created in 1885 and abolished in 1918. It should not be confused with Sheffield Hallam...
, a post he held until 1905. That year, he supported the formation of the University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
, and was created its first Pro-Chancellor. The University's Sir Frederick Mappin Building
Sir Frederick Mappin Building
The Sir Frederick Mappin Building, or more familiarly, the Mappin Building, is a grade II-listed building on Mappin Street, Sheffield, England, named after Sir Frederick Mappin , the so-called Father of Sheffield University....
is named after him.