Nathaniel Buckley facts for kids

Nathaniel Buckley (born in 1821 – died on 23 March 1892) was an important British businessman and politician. He owned large areas of land and also ran cotton mills, which were factories that made cotton fabric. He was a member of the Liberal Party, a major political group in the United Kingdom. In November 1855, he was chosen to be the Mayor of Ashton-under-Lyne, a town in England.

Early Political Career

Nathaniel Buckley first tried to become a Member of Parliament (MP) in the 1868 general election. He ran for the Liberal Party in the area called Stalybridge. However, he lost that election to James Sidebottom, who was from the Conservative Party.

After James Sidebottom passed away in February 1871, a special election, called a by-election, was held to choose a new MP for Stalybridge. At first, the local Liberal Party chose a different candidate. But after many groups of "working men" (ordinary people who worked for a living) asked for him, Buckley was chosen instead. The by-election took place on 28 February, and this time, Nathaniel Buckley won the election by 208 votes. This meant he became the new Member of Parliament for Stalybridge.

Business Success and Land Ownership

By the 1870s, Nathaniel Buckley had become very wealthy, earning the title of a millionaire. In 1873, he bought a large property called the Galtee estate in County Cork, Ireland, from the Earl of Kingston.

After buying the estate, Buckley decided to re-evaluate the rents that the people living on the land had to pay. He then asked his new tenants to pay much higher rents, sometimes between 50% and 500% more than before. This caused a lot of problems and unhappiness among the farmers and families living there. Many people were forced to leave their homes because they couldn't afford the new rents. These events also showed some weaknesses in the laws about land in Ireland, known as the Irish Land Acts. Because of what happened, these laws were later changed to try and protect tenants better.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1867, Nathaniel Buckley was given an important role as a Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire. This was a special position that helped represent the Queen in the county.

At the 1874 general election, Buckley tried to keep his seat in Parliament. However, he was defeated by the Conservative candidate, Thomas Harrop Sidebottom. After this, he did not return to Parliament.

Nathaniel Buckley passed away in 1892 at the age of 71. At the time of his death, he owned homes in Alderdale Lodge, Droylsden, Lancashire, and also Galtee Castle in County Cork, Ireland.