John Batchelor (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Batchelor
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Statue of John Batchelor in The Hayes, Cardiff
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| Born | 1820 |
| Died | 1883 (aged 62–63) |
| Other names | "Friend of freedom" |
| Occupation | Businessman and politician |
| Political party | Liberal |
John Batchelor (born April 10, 1820 – died May 29, 1883) was an important Welsh businessman and politician during the Victorian era. He was known as the "Friend of Freedom" because he fought for people's rights.
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John Batchelor's Life and Work
John Batchelor was born in Newport, but he moved to Cardiff when he was in his early twenties. He became a very important person there. He started his own business selling timber (wood) and later slate (a type of rock used for roofs). He also helped create the Mount Stuart Dry Dock, which was a place where ships could be repaired.
He was an active member of the Liberal Party, a political group. He served as a Liberal Councillor and later became the Mayor of Cardiff. He also led the Cardiff School Board, which helped manage schools. John Batchelor was also a strong supporter of ending slavery.
His Disagreements with the Bute Family
John Batchelor's political work sometimes caused problems. He often disagreed with the Bute family, especially John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute. The Bute family owned a lot of land in Cardiff, including Cardiff Castle. They had also built many of the docks in the city.
The Bute family supported the Tory party, which was the main rival of the Liberal Party. Many people believed that the Butes worked against Batchelor. Some even thought they caused his shipbuilding business to fail.
John Batchelor's Death and What He Left Behind
John Batchelor passed away in 1883. He was buried in Cathays Cemetery next to his son, Tom Eustace, who had died when he was a baby.
The Statue Honoring John Batchelor
After his death, people wanted to build a statue to remember John Batchelor. They started a fund to collect money for it. However, some of his opponents gathered 12,000 signatures on a petition to stop the statue from being built.
Despite this, the statue was made by a sculptor named James Milo Griffith. It was finally revealed on October 16, 1886. You can still see it today in The Hayes, Cardiff. The base of the statue says: "JOHN BATCHELOR B.1820 D.1883 THE FRIEND of FREEDOM".
A lawyer who supported the Conservative party, T. H. Ensor, wrote a very harsh article about Batchelor in a newspaper called the Western Mail. He suggested changing the words on the statue to something negative. Batchelor's supporters sued him for libel (writing false and damaging things). However, they did not win the case. This case actually helped set a new rule in British law: you cannot libel (slander) someone who has already died.
