Sir William Coddington, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Sir William Coddington, 1st Baronet (born 1830 – died February 15, 1918) was an important English businessman. He owned factories that made cotton products. He was also a Conservative politician. This means he was part of a political group. He served in the House of Commons, which is a main part of the UK government. He was a Member of Parliament from 1880 to 1906.
Early Life and Business
William Coddington was born in Salford, Lancashire. He was the oldest son of William Dudley Coddington. His father was a merchant from Manchester.
In 1842, William's father moved to Blackburn. There, he started a business making cotton. William grew up learning about the cotton industry.
When his father passed away in 1867, William took over the family business. He was a very good manager. Under his leadership, the company grew a lot. He even built two new factories called Ordnance and Wellington New Mills.
Public Service and Politics
In 1875, William Coddington became the Mayor of Blackburn. This was an important role in the town. That same year, he gave a large organ to the Parish Church. It cost £3,000, which was a lot of money back then.
He was chosen to be a Member of Parliament (MP) for Blackburn. This happened in the 1880 general election. He kept this job until 1906, when he decided to retire.
In Parliament, Sir William was known for his work. He led a special committee. This committee helped make the streets of London wider. In 1896, he was given the title of baronet. This is a special honor from the King or Queen.
In 1912, the town of Blackburn honored him again. They gave him the "Freedom of the Borough." This showed how much they appreciated his service.
Family Life
In 1864, William Coddington married Sarah Catherine Hall. She was from Wakefield. They had one daughter together.
They first lived at a place called Spring Mount. Later, they moved to Wycollar. This house had been built by his father.
Later Years and Death
Sir William married again when he was 83 years old. His second wife was Aimee Josephine Barber-Starkie.
He passed away at his home in Wycollar. He was 87 years old at the time.
