John Cropper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Cropper
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Cropper in 1840.
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| Born | 1797 |
| Died | 1874 |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Shipping magnate |
| Spouse(s) | Mary |
| Parent(s) | James Cropper |
John Cropper (1797–1874) was a kind-hearted British man. He was a successful businessman, but he was also known for his amazing generosity. People even called him "the most generous man in Liverpool." John Cropper worked hard to help others, especially by fighting against slavery and supporting education for poor children.
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John Cropper's Generosity and Helpfulness
John Cropper was famous for being very rich, but also for being incredibly generous. There's a story that a letter addressed simply to "the most generous man in Liverpool" found its way right to his desk!
He and his wife, Mary, spent a lot of time helping people.
- Every year, they would invite young people who were serving sentences on a training ship called Akbar. These young people were given a chance to learn and improve their lives.
- John Cropper also held a Bible class every Sunday. This class was for young women who needed a safe place and support. The family had set up a special home for them.
- They also started a "ragged school" for children from poor families. This school, sometimes called "St. Croppers," gave these children a chance to learn and get an education.
Fighting Against Slavery
John Cropper was a strong supporter of the movement to end slavery. In 1840, he traveled to London, the capital city, to attend a very important meeting. This meeting was called the World's Anti-Slavery Convention. People from many different countries, like America, France, Haiti, and Australia, came together to discuss how to stop slavery around the world. The picture in the infobox shows John Cropper in a painting made to remember this important event.
Helping the Community
John Cropper was also a leader in his community. He joined the committee of the Liverpool City Mission. This organization helped people in need in Liverpool. He served as its President for many years, from 1847 until he passed away in 1874.
In 1853, a famous American writer named Harriet Beecher Stowe visited England. She was known for writing the book Uncle Tom's Cabin, which was very important in the fight against slavery. Harriet Beecher Stowe stayed at John Cropper's house, called Dingle Bank, during her visit.
John Cropper's Family Life
John Cropper was born in 1797. His parents were James and Mary Cropper. John married Anne Wakefield, and they had ten children together.
Some of their children included:
- Mary (1821-1885)
- James (1823-1900), who started a paper mill company in 1845. This company later became known as James Cropper plc. James also became a Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) for Kendal.
- Sarah (1824-1890)
- Anne (born 1825)
- John Wakefield (1830-1892)
- Edward William (born 1833)
- Isabella Eliza (born 1835)
- Margaret (born 1836)
A Poem About Dingle Bank
A famous writer named Edward Lear wrote a funny poem about John Cropper and his home, Dingle Bank.
Dingle Bank
He lived at Dingle Bank - he did; -
He lived at Dingle Bank;
And in his garden was one Quail,
Four tulips and a Tank:
And from his window he could see
The otion and the River Dee.
His house stood on a Cliff, - it did,
Its aspic it was cool;
And many thousand little boys
Resorted to his school,
Where if of progress they could boast
He gave them heaps of buttered toast.
But he grew rabid-wroth, he did,
If they neglected books,
And dragged them to adjacent Cliffs
With beastly Button Hooks,
And there with fatuous glee he threw
Them down into the otion blue.
And in the sea they sway, they did, -
All playfully about,
And some eventually became
Sponges, or speckled trout: -
But Liverpool doth all bewail
Their Fate; - likewise his Garden Quail.
