John Frederick Cheetham facts for kids
John Frederick Cheetham (born in 1835 – died in 1916) was an important person who owned cotton mills in Cheshire, England. He was also a Liberal Party politician. This means he was part of a political group that believed in certain ideas for how the country should be run. He worked as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons for two different periods, once in the 1880s and again in the 1900s. Being an MP meant he helped make laws and represent the people of his area. Later in his life, he became a Privy Counsellor, which is a special advisor to the King or Queen.
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Early Life and Family Business
John Frederick Cheetham was born in Stalybridge, a town in Cheshire. He was the oldest son of John Cheetham, who was also a very successful cotton manufacturer. His father even became a Member of Parliament for South Lancashire in 1852.
The Cheetham family business was started by George Cheetham (John Frederick's grandfather) way back in 1757. This was around the time the Industrial Revolution was beginning in Britain. The Industrial Revolution was a period when many new machines were invented, especially for making things like cloth, which changed how people worked and lived. The family's cotton mills were located in Stalybridge, at places called Castle Street and Bankwood Mills.
Taking Over the Mills
Sometime in the 1870s, John Frederick Cheetham took over running the family's cotton business. At that time, the two mills were very busy and employed about 1,400 people. This shows how large and important the cotton industry was in Britain during that period.
Journey into Politics
John Frederick Cheetham wanted to represent people in Parliament, which is where laws are made for the country. He tried to get elected several times before he finally won.
First Time as an MP
In the 1880 general election, he was elected as an MP for North Derbyshire. He held this job for five years. However, after five years, the area he represented was changed, and his constituency (the area an MP represents) no longer existed.
Close Elections
In the 1885 general election, he tried to get elected again in a new area called High Peak. It was a very close election! He lost to the Conservative Party candidate, William Sidebottom, by only 9 votes. This was a tiny difference, less than 1% of all the votes.
He tried for the High Peak seat again in 1892, but he was not successful. He also tried to become an MP for Bury in the 1895 general election, but he didn't win that time either.
Return to Parliament and Later Life
Even after several attempts, John Frederick Cheetham didn't give up on politics.
Back in the House of Commons
In January 1905, he was elected again as a Liberal MP. This time, he represented his hometown of Stalybridge. He was 70 years old when he returned to Parliament, which shows his dedication. He was re-elected in 1906. He finally decided to retire from Parliament in January 1910.
Privy Counsellor
In February 1911, after his time as an MP, John Frederick Cheetham was given a very special role. He was appointed a Privy Counsellor. This means he became a formal advisor to the King or Queen, a position of great honor and trust.
John Frederick Cheetham passed away in 1916. He is remembered as a successful businessman and a dedicated politician who served his country.
