James Heywood (philanthropist) facts for kids

James Heywood (born May 28, 1810 – died October 17, 1897) was an important British politician. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP). He was also known as a philanthropist, meaning he gave money to good causes. James Heywood was also a social reformer, working to make society better for everyone.

Early Life and Education

James Heywood was born in Manchester, England, on May 28, 1810. His father, Nathaniel Heywood, was a banker. His mother was Ann Percival. James had two brothers, Benjamin and Thomas. His grandfather was a well-known person named Thomas Percival.

James went to Trinity College, Cambridge, a famous university. After that, he studied law.

A Career of Helping Others

James Heywood was very active in many groups. He was a member of the Portico Library. He also joined the Manchester Statistical Society, where he was president for a few years. This group studied facts and figures about people and places. He even wrote a report about the population in an area of Manchester called Miles Platting.

He was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society. This is a big honor for people who work with statistics. He was even their president from 1875 to 1877.

James Heywood was interested in many things, including rocks and the Earth's history, which is called geology. In 1840, he gave about one hundred rock samples to help start the mineral collection at the Manchester Museum. He also helped create the Manchester Athenaeum, which was a place for learning and culture. He was its first president in 1835. He was also involved with the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society.

In 1839, James Heywood became a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very special group for top scientists. He was chosen because he loved science and had written important reports.

Working as a Politician

James Heywood was a Liberal MP for North Lancashire. He served in Parliament from 1847 to 1857. As an MP, he worked hard for many important changes.

He believed that everyone should have access to knowledge. So, he pushed for free libraries, museums, and art galleries to be open to the public. He also fought for university entrance for dissenters. These were people who did not follow the main Church of England. At the time, they faced difficulties getting into universities.

James Heywood also strongly supported women's rights. He campaigned for women to be able to earn university degrees. This was a very new idea at the time. He also led a group called the Sunday Society. This group wanted people to be able to enjoy leisure activities on Sundays.

He helped open the first free library in Kensington, London, in the 1870s. This was a big step in making books available to more people.

Family Life and Passing

James Heywood married Anne Kennedy Escher on June 11, 1853. Anne was the daughter of John Kennedy and had been married before. James and Anne had one daughter named Anne Sophia. They lived in London.

James Heywood passed away on October 17, 1897.