Elijah Dixon facts for kids
Elijah Dixon (born October 23, 1790 – died July 26, 1876) was an important person in England who worked in textile factories and later became a successful businessman. He was also a strong supporter of social and political changes, especially in the 1800s. People sometimes called him "the Father of English Reformers" because he worked so hard for these changes.
Dixon was involved in big events like the Blanketeers' March and the Peterloo Massacre, which were protests for more fairness. Because of his activism, he was even arrested and held for a time. Later in his life, he became a very successful and wealthy manufacturer. He was also the uncle of William Hepworth Dixon, another notable person.
Early Life and Fight for Change
Elijah Dixon was born in a place called Kirkburton, near Huddersfield. His family moved to Manchester to find work, and when he was young, Elijah worked in different jobs in the textile industry.
He became interested in making big changes after the Napoleonic Wars. During this time, many textile workers in the north of England faced very hard times and poverty.
By 1817, the government was worried about protests. A law that protected people from being held without charge was temporarily stopped. Elijah Dixon was at the Blanketeers' March on March 10, 1817, which was a protest where people marched to London to ask for the right to vote for everyone. He was seen as a leader and was arrested at his workplace in Manchester just two days later. He was taken to London and held there.
Elijah was eventually released in November 1817 without a trial. Like others who were held, he asked the government for recognition that his arrest was not needed, but he did not succeed.
After this, Dixon left the textile industry and tried other jobs while still working for social change. He even sold milk for a while! He met other important people who wanted change, like Richard Carlile, a publisher.
Elijah Dixon had strong religious beliefs. He became very well-known when he was publicly baptized in the Peak Forest Canal in 1829, which many people came to watch.
Becoming a Successful Businessman and Activist
Elijah Dixon found success as a manufacturer. First, he made small boxes for pills, and then he started making matchboxes and matches. His business grew very quickly. It was known by names like Dixon & Nightingale and later George Evans & Son. By 1850, his company had about 450 employees!
Dixon supported many important causes of his time. He believed in the temperance movement, which encouraged people to drink less alcohol. He also strongly supported ending slavery.
He was a preacher and a teacher, and he was very interested in the Co-operative movement. This movement was about people working together to share resources and profits. He gave talks about this idea and even led the very first Co-operative Congress meeting in Salford in 1831.
He also believed in land reform, which was about making land available for more people. He bought shares in projects that helped people buy land so they could own homes and then qualify to vote. He remained a key local figure in the fight for political reform. In 1832, he was the chairman of the Manchester Reform Association and spoke at large public meetings about voting rights.
Later Life and Legacy
Elijah Dixon continued to be active in politics and social causes even when he was older. In 1871, he was asked to speak at the dedication of the tomb of Ernest Jones, a famous Chartist leader. Dixon had also helped carry Jones's coffin at his funeral two years before. He said that Jones was a man who "sacrificed for the public good."
People said that Elijah Dixon stayed very fit even in his old age. He climbed Snaefell, a mountain, when he was 85 years old! He passed away the following year in 1876 after a short illness.
