John Henry Vivian facts for kids
John Henry Vivian was a very important Welsh businessman and politician. He was born on August 9, 1785, and passed away on February 10, 1855. His family, the Vivian family, originally came from Cornwall, England. John Henry Vivian was known for owning large businesses that dealt with copper. He was also a Member of Parliament, which means he helped make laws for the country.
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Who Was John Henry Vivian?
John Henry Vivian was the son of John Vivian and Betsey Cranch. He was also the brother of Hussey Vivian, who later became Baron Vivian. The Vivian family was well-known, especially in the world of business and politics.
His Business Empire
John Henry Vivian was a successful industrialist, which is someone who owns and manages large businesses, especially in manufacturing. He owned several companies that focused on copper. These businesses included:
- Copper Mining: Digging copper out of the ground.
- Copper Smelting: Melting copper ore to remove impurities and make pure copper.
- Trading: Buying and selling copper products.
His businesses were located in important cities like Swansea in Wales, and also in Liverpool, Birmingham, and London in England. His company in Swansea was called Vivian & Sons.
His Role in Politics
Besides his business work, John Henry Vivian was also a politician. From 1832 to 1855, he served as a Member of Parliament (often called an MP). This meant he was elected by people in the Swansea District to represent them in the UK Parliament. As an MP, he helped make decisions and laws for the country.
He also held other important positions:
- He was a Fellow of the Royal Society, a group of very smart scientists.
- He was a major in the Royal Stannary Artillery, a type of military group.
- He was a justice of the peace, which meant he helped keep law and order.
- He was a deputy lieutenant, a high-ranking official in a county.
Family Life
John Henry Vivian married Sarah Jones on October 30, 1816. Sarah was the oldest daughter of Arthur Jones from Reigate. They had eight children together. Some of their notable children included:
- Henry Vivian, 1st Baron Swansea, who also became a very important person.
- Sir Arthur Vivian.
- Richard Glynn Vivian.
John Henry Vivian passed away on February 10, 1855. His wife, Sarah, lived for more than 30 years after him, passing away on September 8, 1886.
The Mineral Vivianite
A special mineral called vivianite was named in honor of John Henry Vivian. This mineral is a type of iron phosphate with water in it (its scientific name is Fe3(PO4)2•8(H2O)). It's often found in places where other minerals have broken down.
