Elkanah Armitage: Difference between revisions
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==Personal life== |
==Personal life== |
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In 1816 he married Mary Bowers. Mary died in 1836 having borne him eight children; Elkanah, [[Benjamin Armitage|Benjamin]], Samuel, Joseph, John, Rebecca, Jane Ann |
In 1816 he married Mary Bowers. Mary died in 1836 having borne him eight children; Elkanah, [[Benjamin Armitage|Benjamin]], Samuel, Joseph, John, Rebecca, Jane Ann and Mary Bowers. Elkanah then married Elizabeth Kirk, daughter of Henry Kirk Esq of Chapel en le Frith and had one further son Vernon. Elizabeth died on the 27th July 1868. |
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Elkanah lived at Gore Hill, Pendleton Green until 1853 when he purchased Hope Hall, [[Pendleton, Greater Manchester|Pendleton]]. <ref name=hampson>* {{cite book | last=Hampson| first=Charles Phillips | year=1930 | title=Salford Through the Ages: The "Fons Et Origo" of an Industrial City | publisher=E J Morton | location=Manchester }}</ref> |
Elkanah lived at Gore Hill, Pendleton Green until 1853 when he purchased Hope Hall, [[Pendleton, Greater Manchester|Pendleton]]. <ref name=hampson>* {{cite book | last=Hampson| first=Charles Phillips | year=1930 | title=Salford Through the Ages: The "Fons Et Origo" of an Industrial City | publisher=E J Morton | location=Manchester }}</ref> |
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Revision as of 19:54, 15 June 2009
Sir Elkanah Armitage, (September 6, 1794 – November 26, 1876) was a British industrialist and Liberal politician.
Early life
Born the third of six sons of a farmer and linen weaver from Failsworth, Lancashire. He left school at the age of 8 and went to work in the cotton industry, along with two of his brothers, at George Nadin & Nephews, and soon rose to become manager on account of his diligence and growing shrewdness in business. [1]
Personal life
In 1816 he married Mary Bowers. Mary died in 1836 having borne him eight children; Elkanah, Benjamin, Samuel, Joseph, John, Rebecca, Jane Ann and Mary Bowers. Elkanah then married Elizabeth Kirk, daughter of Henry Kirk Esq of Chapel en le Frith and had one further son Vernon. Elizabeth died on the 27th July 1868.
Elkanah lived at Gore Hill, Pendleton Green until 1853 when he purchased Hope Hall, Pendleton. [2]
Industrial career
In the 1810s Elkanah and Mary set up in business as drapers at 18 Chapel Street, Salford, then sometime shortly after 1822 he set up a weaving manufacture business with James Thompson and by 1829 he was employing 29 workers and selling his cloths in Manchester at considerable profit. The business was so successful that he was able to build a new factory at Pendleton and eventually employed 200 people making sailcloth, ginghams and checks. By 1848, despite economic slumps he had extended Pendleton New Mill and was employing over 600. In 1867 the Armitages took over the Nassau Mills in Patricroft.[1]
Political career
Elkanah became active in politics from a young age and his name appeared on the Manchester petition for the abolition of the Slave Trade in 1806.[3]
In 1838 Manchester was incorporated as a municipal borough, and Armitage was elected to the first town council as a Liberal councillor representing Exchange Ward. He became an alderman in 1841, and was Mayor of Manchester from 1846 to 1848.[4] [5] During his term of office there was a surge of support for the Chartist Movement, with the first mass meeting held in Manchester in September 1848.[6] In 1849 he was knighted by Queen Victoria for his services as mayor during the crisis of the previous year.[7][8]
In 1857 Armitage stood for Parliament, unsuccessfully opposing Mr WN Massey for the seat of Salford and in 1866 he was appointed High Sheriff of the County of Lancashire.[2][9]
Armitage was a lifelong friend and supporter of John Bright and the Anti-Corn Law League. He shared Bright's Pacifist stance and spoke out against the War in the Crimea, in opposition to Prime Minister Palmerston.[1]
He served for many years as Chairman of the Governors of the Manchester Grammar School and as a Governor of Manchester Royal Infirmary. He was also a Salford Police Commissioner.[7]
Death
Sir Elkanah died on the 26th November 1876 at Hope Hall at the age of 82, his funeral procession was half a mile long and was made up of a hundred carriages. His mortal remains were laid to rest at Weaste Cemetery. [2]
His will which was passed on the 13th January 1877, valued his estate at £200,000.[10]
References
- ^ a b c John Moss (2005). "Politicians, Law & Social Reformers (10 of 12)". Manchester Politicians & the Northwest of England. Papillon (Manchester UK) Limited. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
- ^ a b c * Hampson, Charles Phillips (1930). Salford Through the Ages: The "Fons Et Origo" of an Industrial City. Manchester: E J Morton.
- ^ "Document: Petition from the inhabitants of Manchester in support of the Foreign Slave Trade Abolition Bill, 1806". Parliamentary Archives. House of Lords. 2007. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
- ^ Ealine and Roger Hart. "Chronology for the Salford Hundred, 1876". Salford Hundred Ancestry, Annals and History. www.mancuniensis.info. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
- ^ "Former Mayors of Manchester (1838-1892)". The Lord Mayor's Office. Manchester City Council. 2008. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
- ^ "Manchester: at Chartism's heart". Chartist Ancestors. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
- ^ a b Death Of Sir Elkanah Armitage, The Times, November 27, 1876, p.6
- ^ "No. 20943". The London Gazette. 1849-02-09.
- ^ "No. 23067". The London Gazette. 1866-02-06.
- ^ "Wills". Old Mersey Times: Liverpool and Merseyside's life and times transcribed from old newspapers. Retrieved 31 December 2008.