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Sir James Whitehead
A cartoon of Sir James Whitehead from 1889.

Sir James Whitehead, 1st Baronet (born March 2, 1834 – died October 20, 1917) was an important British businessman and a politician from the Liberal Party. He held many important public roles, including being the Lord Mayor of London.

Early Life and Business Beginnings

James Whitehead was born near a place called Sedbergh in Yorkshire, England. He went to school at a grammar school in Appleby-in-Westmorland, which is now known as Appleby Grammar School. After school, he started learning a trade as a draper, which is someone who sells cloth and fabrics, in a town called Kendal.

He later moved to Bradford and then to London to build his career. In 1860, he married Mercy Mildred Hinds. He became very successful in business, setting up his own company on Gresham Street. He also helped start a well-known department store called John Barker & Company in Kensington in 1870.

Serving the Community

After making a lot of money, Sir James Whitehead decided to retire from business in 1881. He then focused his energy on serving the public.

Roles in London City Government

In 1882, he became an Alderman for the Cheap ward in the City of London. An Alderman is a senior member of the city council. He also became the Master of the Worshipful Company of Fanmakers in 1884, which is one of London's historic trade groups.

That same year, he served as a Sheriff of the City of London. Then, in 1888, he was elected Lord Mayor of London, which is a very important and respected position. As Lord Mayor, he changed the traditional "Lord Mayor's Show" from a circus-like event to a more formal State Procession. He also played a key role in helping to settle the London Dock Strike of 1889, which was a big workers' protest.

National and Charitable Work

In 1889, Sir James Whitehead represented England at a big international exhibition in Paris called the Exposition Universelle. For his public service, he was given the special title of baronet on November 26, 1889. This meant he became "Sir James Whitehead, 1st Baronet." The title was linked to his home, Highfield House, in Catford. In 1890, he was also appointed High Sheriff of the County of London.

He cared a lot about helping others. He put up a statue of Sir Rowland Hill in 1879, who was famous for reforming the postal service. Sir James also started the Rowland Hill Benevolent Fund to help older and struggling Post Office workers. He even named his son Rowland! He was involved with many other charities and public bodies, including being a Justice of the Peace in different areas.

Political Career

Sir James Whitehead also wanted to serve the country in Parliament.

Becoming a Member of Parliament

He tried to become a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Appleby area in 1885 and 1886. He finally succeeded in 1892, when he was elected as an MP for Leicester. He was a member of the Liberal Party and supported the famous Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone.

His Political Views

As an MP, Sir James supported several important ideas:

  • Irish Home Rule: This meant giving Ireland more control over its own affairs, rather than being fully governed by London.
  • House of Lords Reform: He wanted to change how the House of Lords, the upper house of Parliament, worked.
  • Disestablishment of the Church of England: This meant separating the official Church of England from the government.

He spent most of his time in Parliament working on making railway freight rates fairer for businesses. However, he only served as an MP for two years, resigning in 1894.

Other Interests and Legacy

Sir James Whitehead was also interested in history and learning. He was a member of several important groups, including the Society of Antiquaries, the Royal Historical Society, and the Royal Statistical Society. These groups are for people who study history, old objects, and statistics. He was also part of the International Peace Association and the Reform Club, a well-known club in London.

His important papers and records are kept safe in the archives of the Houses of Parliament. The title of Baronet has been passed down through his family, and currently, Sir Phillip Whitehead is the 6th Baronet.

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