William Highfield Jones facts for kids

William Highfield Jones (born January 7, 1829 – died March 25, 1903) was an important person from Wolverhampton, England. He was a successful businessman, a local politician, a writer, and someone who gave a lot to his community.

With his two brothers, he helped build one of the biggest businesses in Wolverhampton called Jones Brothers & Co. He later became an alderman and served as the twenty-fifth Mayor of Wolverhampton. The Jones family is special because three brothers from the same family became Mayors of Wolverhampton!

William Jones's Early Life

William Highfield Jones was born in Wolverhampton on January 7, 1829. He was one of nine children born to Edward and Rebecca Jones. His father worked as a foreman at a japanning factory called Old Hall. Japanning was a way of applying a special varnish to metal or wood to make it shiny and durable.

Three of William's brothers also started working as apprentices at this factory. However, William decided to leave and start his own business. He began by renting workshops nearby.

Building Jones Bros. & Co.

Later, William's two brothers, Harry and Benjamin, joined him. In 1853, they bought an empty japanning factory and officially started their company, Jones Bros. & Co. As their business grew, they bought more buildings next to their factory.

Benjamin's sons also joined the company. They traveled far and wide, representing the company in places like South Africa, India, and China. In 1886, William Jones was even named as a co-inventor of a new way to decorate metal items. This method used electricity to put designs on metal, which were then filled with varnish or paint. William retired from the company in 1896.

William Jones's Role in Politics

William Highfield Jones was also very involved in local government. He was elected to the town council in 1863. On the council, he led several important groups, including the Streets Committee and the Lighting Committee. These groups helped make sure the town's roads were good and that there was enough light at night.

He served as the Mayor of Wolverhampton during 1873 and 1874. As Mayor, he was the leader of the town and helped make important decisions for the community.

Championing Education in Wolverhampton

One of William Jones's biggest passions was education. He was elected as a member of the Wolverhampton School Board. He strongly believed that everyone should have the chance to go to school. This idea was a key goal of the government's Education Act 1870, which aimed to provide education for all children.

The William Highfield Jones Memorial Schools were built because of his hard work and dedication to education. In his will, written in 1901, he left a generous amount of money (£1,000) to Tettenhall College and the same amount to the Wolverhampton & Staffordshire Hospital. These gifts helped support important institutions in his town.

His Connection to the Church

William Jones was known as a non-conformist. This meant he belonged to a Protestant church that was not the official Church of England. He even wrote a history book about the Congregational churches in Wolverhampton.

Recognitions and Awards

In July 1902, William Jones received a special honor: the Freedom of the Borough of Wolverhampton. This award is given to people who have made a great contribution to their town. He received this honor when the Lord Mayor of London visited Wolverhampton.

The Jones Family's Legacy

William's brothers, John and Joseph, were also very successful. They started their own company, the Corrugated Iron Company, in 1857. Like William, both John and Joseph became aldermen and later served as Mayor of Wolverhampton. This made the Jones family unique, as they were the only family to have three brothers serve as Mayor of the town.