Elkanah Armitage
Encyclopedia
Sir Elkanah Armitage DL
(6 September 1794 – 26 November 1876) was a British
industrialist and Liberal
politician.
, Lancashire
. He left school at the age of 8 and went to work in the cotton industry, along with two of his brothers, at George Nadin & Nephews, and soon rose to become manager on account of his diligence and growing shrewdness in business.
, Samuel, Joseph, John, Rebecca, Jane Ann and Mary Bowers. Armitage then married Elizabeth Kirk, daughter of Captain Henry Kirk of Chapel-en-le-Frith
and had one further son Vernon. Elizabeth died on 27 July 1868.
Armitage lived at Gore Hill, Pendleton Green until 1853 when he purchased Hope Hall, Pendleton
.
.
In 1838 Manchester was incorporated as a municipal borough
, and Armitage was elected to the first town council as a Liberal councillor representing Exchange Ward. He became an alderman
in 1841, and was Mayor of Manchester from 1846 to 1848. During his term of office there was a surge of support for the Chartist Movement, with the first mass meeting held in Manchester in September 1848. In 1849 he was created a Knight Bachelor
by Queen Victoria
for his services as mayor during the crisis of the previous year.
In 1857, Armitage stood for Parliament, unsuccessfully opposing William Nathaniel Massey
for the seat of Salford
and in 1866 he was appointed High Sheriff of Lancashire
, having represented the same county also as Deputy Lieutenant
before.
Armitage was a lifelong friend and supporter of John Bright
and the Anti-Corn Law League
. He shared Bright's Pacifist stance and spoke out against the War in the Crimea
, in opposition to Prime Minister Palmerston.
He served for many years as Chairman of the Governors of the Manchester Grammar School
and as a Governor of Manchester Royal Infirmary
. He was also a Salford Police Commissioner.
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(6 September 1794 – 26 November 1876) was a British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
industrialist and Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician.
Early life
He was born the third of six sons of Elkanah Armitage, a farmer and linen weaver from FailsworthFailsworth
At Failsworth lies north-northwest of London. It shares common boundaries with Manchester and Oldham, on its west and northeast respectively. Failsworth is traversed by the A62 road, from Manchester to Oldham, the heavy rail line of the Oldham Loop and the Rochdale Canal, which crosses the...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
. He left school at the age of 8 and went to work in the cotton industry, along with two of his brothers, at George Nadin & Nephews, and soon rose to become manager on account of his diligence and growing shrewdness in business.
Personal life
In 1816 he married Mary Louisa Bowers. She died in 1836 having borne him eight children; Elkanah, BenjaminBenjamin Armitage
Benjamin Armitage was a British industrialist and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1880 to 1886....
, Samuel, Joseph, John, Rebecca, Jane Ann and Mary Bowers. Armitage then married Elizabeth Kirk, daughter of Captain Henry Kirk of Chapel-en-le-Frith
Chapel-en-le-Frith
Chapel-en-le-Frith is a small town in Derbyshire, England, on the edge of the Peak District near the border with Cheshire, from Manchester. Dubbed "The Capital of the Peak District", the settlement was established by the Normans in the 12th century, originally as a hunting lodge within the Forest...
and had one further son Vernon. Elizabeth died on 27 July 1868.
Armitage lived at Gore Hill, Pendleton Green until 1853 when he purchased Hope Hall, Pendleton
Pendleton, Greater Manchester
Pendleton is an inner city area of Salford, Greater Manchester, England. It is about from Manchester city centre. The A6 dual carriageway skirts the east of the district....
.
Industrial career
In the 1810s Armitage and his first wife set up in business as drapers at 18 Chapel Street, Salford, then sometime shortly after 1822 he set up a weaving manufacture business with James Thompson and by 1829 he was employing 29 workers and selling his cloths in Manchester at considerable profit. The business was so successful that he was able to build a new factory at Pendleton and eventually employed 200 people making sailcloth, ginghams and checks. By 1848, despite economic slumps he had extended Pendleton New Mill and was employing over 600. In 1867 the Armitages took over the Nassau Mills in PatricroftPatricroft
Patricroft is a district of Eccles, England, within the historic county boundaries of Lancashire.-History:Patricroft may derive its name from 'Pear-tree croft', or more likely, 'Patrick's Croft'. In 1836, James Nasmyth, in partnership with Holbrook Gaskell, built the Bridgewater Foundry in...
.
Political career
Armitage became active in politics from a young age and his name appeared on the Manchester petition for the abolition of the Slave Trade in 1806.In 1838 Manchester was incorporated as a municipal borough
Municipal borough
Municipal boroughs were a type of local government district which existed in England and Wales between 1835 and 1974, in Northern Ireland from 1840 to 1973 and in the Republic of Ireland from 1840 to 2002...
, and Armitage was elected to the first town council as a Liberal councillor representing Exchange Ward. He became an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
in 1841, and was Mayor of Manchester from 1846 to 1848. During his term of office there was a surge of support for the Chartist Movement, with the first mass meeting held in Manchester in September 1848. In 1849 he was created a Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
by Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
for his services as mayor during the crisis of the previous year.
In 1857, Armitage stood for Parliament, unsuccessfully opposing William Nathaniel Massey
William Nathaniel Massey
William Nathaniel Massey was a British barrister, author and Liberal politician.Massey studied law, being admitted as a student at the Inner Temple in 1826, and was called to the bar in 1844...
for the seat of Salford
Salford (UK Parliament constituency)
Salford was a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election. The borough constituency dated from 1997 and was abolished in 2010.A parliamentary borough of the same...
and in 1866 he was appointed High Sheriff of Lancashire
High Sheriff of Lancashire
The High Sheriff of Lancashire is an ancient officer, now largely ceremonial, granted to Lancashire, a county in North West England. High Shrievalties are the oldest secular titles under the Crown, in England and Wales...
, having represented the same county also as Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
before.
Armitage was a lifelong friend and supporter of John Bright
John Bright
John Bright , Quaker, was a British Radical and Liberal statesman, associated with Richard Cobden in the formation of the Anti-Corn Law League. He was one of the greatest orators of his generation, and a strong critic of British foreign policy...
and the Anti-Corn Law League
Anti-Corn Law League
The Anti-Corn Law League was in effect the resumption of the Anti-Corn Law Association, which had been created in London in 1836 but did not obtain widespread popularity. The Anti-Corn Law League was founded in Manchester in 1838...
. He shared Bright's Pacifist stance and spoke out against the War in the Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
, in opposition to Prime Minister Palmerston.
He served for many years as Chairman of the Governors of the Manchester Grammar School
Manchester Grammar School
The Manchester Grammar School is the largest independent day school for boys in the UK . It is based in Manchester, England...
and as a Governor of Manchester Royal Infirmary
Manchester Royal Infirmary
The Manchester Royal Infirmary is a hospital in Manchester, England which was founded by Charles White in 1752 as a cottage hospital capable of caring for twelve patients. Manchester Royal Infirmary is part of a larger NHS Trust incorporating several hospitals called Central Manchester University...
. He was also a Salford Police Commissioner.