Thomas Hazlehurst (businessman) facts for kids

Thomas Hazlehurst (born February 27, 1779 – died February 18, 1842) was an English businessman. He started a company called Hazlehurst & Sons in Runcorn, Cheshire. This company made soap and a special chemical called alkali. Thomas was also a very religious man, following the Methodist faith. He helped a lot with important matters in his town.

Thomas Hazlehurst's Life and Business

Thomas Hazlehurst was born in Winwick, Lancashire. His family soon moved to Cheshire and eventually settled in the town of Runcorn.

Before starting his famous soap business, Thomas worked in different jobs. In 1816, he opened a soap factory, also known as a soapery. It was located next to the Bridgewater Canal in Runcorn.

Making Soap and Alkali

At first, the special ingredient needed for soap, called alkali, came from plants. It was probably made from kelp, a type of seaweed. But by 1830, Thomas found a new way to make his own alkali. He used a method called the Leblanc process.

His soap business became very successful. By 1832, it was one of the top 20 soap factories in all of Great Britain! To deal with the pollution from making alkali, Thomas built a huge chimney. It was over 300 feet (91 m) tall, making it one of the tallest chimneys in the country at that time.

Thomas had four sons: William, John, Thomas junior, and Charles. They all helped run the family business, which became known as Hazlehurst & Sons.

His Faith and Community Work

In 1806, Thomas had a daughter named Eliza, who sadly died when she was a baby. This sad event led Thomas to become a devoted Methodist. He played a very important part in helping the Methodist church grow in Runcorn.

At the start of the 1800s, there were not many Methodists in the town. But by 1827, the group was strong enough to build a large two-story church and school. This building was called Brunswick Chapel. Thomas was known for being extremely religious. He prayed every morning, at noon, and in the evening. He made sure nothing, not even his business or visitors, stopped him from his prayers.

Thomas also helped a lot with local government and community projects. He was part of different groups that helped manage the town. For example, he was involved with committees for local services and public health. He also served as a director for the Runcorn Gas Company.

After Thomas Hazlehurst passed away, his sons continued to run the family business. He was buried in the churchyard of All Saints Church in Runcorn.