William McConnel facts for kids

William McConnel (born 1810, died 10 October 1902) was an important British businessman. He owned large factories and helped build a famous railway. He was known for his work in the cotton industry and later for starting a slate company in Wales.

A Giant in Cotton Mills

William McConnel's family owned huge factories called cotton spinning mills in Ancoats, a part of Manchester, England. These mills turned raw cotton into thread.

Starting a Big Business

The first mill, Sedgewick Mill, was built between 1818 and 1821. It was part of a company called McConnel & Kennedy. William's father, James McConnel, started this company with a partner named John Kennedy.

When James McConnel passed away in 1831, three of his sons, Henry, James, and William, took over the business. By 1833, the McConnel & Kennedy Mills were importing the most cotton from America. Sedgwick Mill was one of the biggest mills in the entire United Kingdom!

Facing Challenges

In 1860 and 1861, William's brothers, Henry and James, retired. This left William as the only owner of the huge mill.

A big challenge came in 1861 with the start of the American Civil War. This war stopped the supply of raw cotton from America. Many mills in Lancashire had to slow down or even close completely. Luckily, Sedgwick Mill had a lot of cotton stored up, so it could keep running, though at a slower pace.

By 1863, with the war still going on, William McConnel started looking for new types of businesses. He wanted to make sure his interests weren't all tied to cotton.

Building a Slate Empire

William McConnel's search for new ventures led him to Wales. In 1859, he bought a large property called Hengwrt Hall near Dolgellau in mid-Wales.

The Aberdovey Slate Company

His connection to Wales led him to create the Aberdovey Slate Company on January 3, 1864. This company was set up to dig for valuable minerals in the area. They leased the land where the Bryn Eglwys slate quarry was located and began taking over the slate mining.

William McConnel made the quarry much bigger and more productive. A very important part of this expansion was building a new railway. This railway would carry the slate from the quarry to the main railway line at Tywyn, about 7 miles away.

The Talyllyn Railway

This new railway was the narrow gauge Talyllyn Railway, which opened in 1866. It was designed to move slate efficiently.

The Bryn Eglwys quarry was very successful and kept producing slate until 1946. The Talyllyn Railway continued to serve the local area even after the quarry closed. In 1951, it became the first railway in the world to be saved and run by volunteers as a heritage railway. Today, it's still a popular tourist attraction.

Other Business Ventures

William McConnel's desire to try new things beyond cotton led him to invest in other industries. He owned the Deeside Ironworks and was involved with several coal mining companies. He was also the chairman of the Sheepbridge Coal and Iron Co.

Later Life and Legacy

William McConnel continued to manage McConnel & Kennedy until he retired in 1878. His oldest son, John Wanklyn McConnel, took over the business in 1880. William McConnel passed away in 1902.

His family line continued to be important. Some of his descendants married into notable families, including the dukes of Roxburghe and Wellington.