Thomas Bazley facts for kids
Sir Thomas Bazley, 1st Baronet (born May 27, 1797 – died March 18, 1885) was an important British businessman and politician. He was a member of the Liberal Party. He also held the title of DL, which meant he was a special helper to the King's or Queen's representative in a county.
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Life of Sir Thomas Bazley
Sir Thomas Bazley was born in Gilnow, a place near Bolton, Lancashire. His father, also named Thomas, worked with cotton and was a writer.
Starting a Business in Cotton
After going to Bolton Grammar School, young Thomas Bazley learned about spinning cotton. He worked for a company called Messrs Ainsworth and Company. Later, he started his own business selling cotton yarn in Bolton.
In 1826, he joined forces with another businessman, Robert Gardner. Together, they took over cotton mills in Manchester and Halliwell. They created a special community called Barrow Bridge in Halliwell. This was a "model" industrial village, meaning it was designed to be a good place for workers to live and work.
By 1847, Bazley owned Barrow Bridge completely. His company became the biggest in the world for making fine cotton and lace thread. He was a very large employer. He also built schools and reading rooms for the people who worked for him.
Family Life and Public Service
In 1828, Thomas Bazley married Mary Maria Sarah Nash. They had one son, who was born in 1829.
From the 1830s, Bazley was very active in the Anti Corn Law League. This group worked to remove special taxes on imported grain, which made food cheaper. From 1845 to 1860, he was the president of the Manchester Chamber of Trade. He was also made a Deputy Lieutenant for Lancashire.
Helping with Exhibitions
Because he knew so much about the cotton industry, Sir Thomas Bazley was chosen to help with two big international events. He was a commissioner for the Great Exhibition in London in 1851. He also helped with the Paris International Exhibition in 1855. From 1853 to 1855, he was part of a special group called a Royal Commission. This group worked to make the business laws across the United Kingdom more similar.
Political Career
In 1858, Sir Thomas Bazley was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Manchester. He was a Liberal Party politician. He won the election without anyone running against him. He kept his seat in Parliament until 1880.
Because his work in Parliament was so busy, he decided to stop running his cotton business. In 1861, he sold his company to William Romaine Callender. Interestingly, Callender later also became an MP for Manchester.
Later Life and Honors
In the 1860s, Sir Thomas Bazley bought large pieces of land in Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, and Oxfordshire. In 1870, he moved permanently to his estates near Fairford in Gloucestershire.
In 1867, he received a special award from France called the Légion d'honneur. In 1869, he was given the title of Baronet. This honor was given to him for his important work in public life and the cotton industry. The Prime Minister at the time, William Ewart Gladstone, suggested he receive this award.
Sir Thomas Bazley passed away suddenly in March 1885 at his summer home in Lytham, Lancashire. He was 88 years old. He was buried next to his father at St John's Church in Manchester.
Family
Sir Thomas Bazley married Mary Maria Sarah Nash on June 2, 1828. She was the daughter of Sebastian Nash from Clayton, near Manchester. Mary Maria Sarah passed away on August 22, 1897. They had only one child, who became Sir Thomas Sebastian Bazley.
