William McArthur (lord mayor of London) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir William McArthur
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William McArthur's caricature by Spy published in Vanity Fair in 1881.
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| Member of the British Parliament for Lambeth |
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| In office 8 December 1868 – 18 December 1885 Serving with Sir James Lawrence, Bt
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| Preceded by | Thomas Hughes |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Lord Mayor of London | |
| In office 1 January 1880 – 31 December 1880 |
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| Preceded by | Francis Wyatt Truscott |
| Succeeded by | John Whittaker Ellis |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 July 1809 Malin, Ireland |
| Died | 16 November 1887 (aged 78) Derry, Ireland |
| Resting place | West Norwood Cemetery, London, England |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Profession | Businessman, manager |
Sir William McArthur (born July 6, 1809 – died November 16, 1887) was an important businessman and politician. He was born in Ireland but also lived in England. He became the Lord Mayor of London and was a member of the House of Commons, which is like the main parliament in the United Kingdom. He belonged to the Liberal Party.
Contents
Early Life and Business
Sir William McArthur was born in Malin, Ireland. His father, John McArthur, was a Methodist minister. When William was 12, he started working as an apprentice for a woollen draper in Enniskillen.
In 1825, he moved to Lurgan and became a merchant. By 1831, he opened his own drapery business in Derry. His business grew, especially after his brother, Alexander McArthur, moved to Australia in 1841. They started trading goods with Australia.
Moving to London
In 1857, McArthur moved his business to the City of London. He became a very successful businessman there. He was the chairman of the Star Assurance Company and a director for several banks, including the City Bank and the Bank of Australasia. He also helped run the Australian Telegraph Co.
He was also a Justice of the Peace for Surrey. This meant he helped keep law and order. He was also a Deputy Lieutenant for the City of London, which is a special role supporting the King or Queen's representative.
Political Career
Sir William McArthur was interested in politics and public service. He was involved in opening the Methodist College Belfast in 1865.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
In 1865, he tried to become a Member of Parliament (MP) for Pontefract but didn't win. From 1867 to 1868, he served as the Sheriff of London and Middlesex.
In 1868, McArthur was elected as an MP for Lambeth. He held this seat in the House of Commons until 1885. The area he represented was then divided into smaller parts.
Lord Mayor of London
In 1872, he became an alderman for Coleman Street in London. An alderman is a senior member of a city council. In 1880, he was elected Lord Mayor of London, which is a very important position.
He also helped start the London Chamber of Commerce in 1881. In 1882, he was given a special honor and became a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG).
Later Political Life
In the 1885 election, McArthur ran as an independent candidate for Newington West. However, he did not win this election.
Social Interests and Legacy
Sir William McArthur cared about social causes. He supported organizations like the Orphan Working School and the Aborigines' Protection Society. This society worked to protect the rights of Indigenous people.
In 1883, he opened Centenary Hall in Kennington. He is remembered there with a special stone.
Sir William McArthur passed away at the age of 78. He was buried in Norwood Cemetery in London. He left money to Methodist College Belfast to help build a boarding hall for girls. He was married to Marianne McElwaine in 1843.
Images for kids
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William McArthur's caricature by Spy published in Vanity Fair in 1881.
