William Brocklehurst (politician, born 1818) facts for kids

William Coare Brocklehurst (born 1818, died 1900) was an important English politician and a leader in his family's silk business. His family owned a large silk production company in Macclesfield, England, during the 1800s. William Brocklehurst was a member of the Liberal Party and served as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons for several years.

Becoming a Member of Parliament

William Brocklehurst first became an MP for the town of Macclesfield in 1868. He was elected alongside another MP to represent the area. People liked his work, and he was re-elected two more times, in 1874 and 1880.

Challenges in the 1880 Election

After the 1880 election, there were some problems with the results in Macclesfield. A special investigation found that there had been issues during the election. Because of this, William Brocklehurst and the other MP for Macclesfield lost their seats in Parliament. The town of Macclesfield then lost its right to have MPs for a while.

Returning to Parliament

Later, in 1885, new rules changed how areas were represented in Parliament. The old Macclesfield area was changed, and a new area with the same name was created. William Brocklehurst was elected as the first MP for this new area in 1885. However, he decided not to run for election again in 1886.

Family Business and Properties

The Brocklehurst family was well-known for their silk business, especially their Brocklehurst-Whiston mill. They were very successful.

Important Family Homes

The family bought Butley Hall in 1861. This was a large and important property. In 1884, they also bought another estate called Bollingtonfield. They renamed this property Butley Cottage. Today, Butley Cottage is a hotel known as White House Manor.

Contributions to the Community

William Brocklehurst was also very active in his local community. He held several important roles and helped improve life for people in Macclesfield.

Public Service Roles

He served as a Justice of the Peace for Cheshire. This meant he was a local official who helped keep the peace and deal with minor legal matters. In 1870, he was also the president of the Macclesfield Chamber of Commerce. This group worked to support businesses in the town.

Supporting Education and Health

William Brocklehurst cared about education and health.

• In 1895, a new school for girls, the Macclesfield High School for Girls, was started in a building bought from him.
• When he passed away in June 1900, he left money to important local institutions. He gave £1000 to the Macclesfield Infirmary, which was a hospital. He also left £1500 to the High School for Girls. These gifts helped these places continue their important work.

His Son's Legacy

William Coare Brocklehurst's elder son, also named William Brocklehurst (1851-1933), followed in his father's footsteps. He became the mayor of Macclesfield from 1883 to 1885. Later, he also served as the town's MP from 1906 to 1918.