Thomas Barnes (MP) facts for kids

Thomas Barnes (born in 1812, died April 24, 1897) was an important British businessman and politician. He was a member of the Liberal Party and served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the town of Bolton. An MP is a person elected to represent a group of people in the country's parliament, helping to make laws.

Thomas Barnes had many successful businesses. These included making cotton in Farnworth and leading the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, a big train company. He was elected as an MP three times during his life.

Early Life and Family

Thomas Barnes was born in 1812. He was one of three sons of James Rothwell Barnes. His father was a very important person in the growth of Farnworth.

James Rothwell Barnes helped bring new industries to the town. He built the first factory in Farnworth that used steam power to weave cloth. Later, in 1832, he also started the first cotton spinning factory there.

Business Ventures

Thomas Barnes had many different business interests. Besides his cotton factory, Thomas Barnes & Co. Ltd., he was involved in several other companies.

He worked with railway companies, including the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. He was also part of a bank, a gas company, and an insurance company. He even had a share in a slate quarry in Wales.

Political Career

Thomas Barnes became a Liberal MP for Bolton in 1852. To do this, he stepped down as the leader of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, but he still owned a lot of shares in the company.

He served as an MP until 1857. He tried to win another seat in 1859 but was not successful. In 1861, he became the MP for Bolton again without anyone running against him. He kept this seat until 1868.

He chose not to run in the 1874 election. However, he was asked to run for Bolton again in 1880. By this time, he was once more the chairman of the railway company. He had to refuse the offer because he was not well.

Besides being an MP, Thomas Barnes also served as a Justice of the Peace. This role meant he helped keep law and order in his local area. He was also a Deputy Lieutenant for the Duchy of Lancaster, a special title given to important people.

Other Interests and Community Work

Thomas Barnes was a Nonconformist, meaning he was a Protestant who did not follow the Church of England. He often gave sermons and taught at Sunday schools.

He was also involved in several groups that worked for social change. He supported the Anti-Corn Law League, which wanted to lower food prices. He was also a member of the Liberation Society.

Barnes believed that more people should have the right to vote. This is called widening the electoral franchise. He also supported a law that would let local communities decide if they wanted to stop alcohol sales.

In 1862, he bought a large cotton plantation in Jamaica. It was about 200 acres (81 ha) in size. He wanted to show that cotton could be grown without using slave labor.

Around 1858, Barnes bought land near Chirk in Shropshire. He built a house there called The Quinta. He also helped build a beautiful Gothic Revival church for his community in Weston Rhyn. He would preach there himself if no one else was available.

Thomas Barnes also gave about 4.5 hectares (11 acres) of his land and money to create Farnworth Park. This park was opened in October 1864 by William Ewart Gladstone, a famous politician. Barnes wanted to honor his father and celebrate his son's coming of age. He was inspired to create the park after seeing children playing in the dirty streets of the town. Many people, possibly as many as 100,000, attended the park's opening celebration.

Thomas Barnes passed away at his home, The Quinta, on April 24, 1897. His wife, Ann, had died before him in 1880.