J. Batty Langley
Encyclopedia
J. Batty Langley was a British
Liberal Party
politician
.
Born in Uppingham
, Langley became a wealthy timber merchant in Sheffield
, and one of the city's most prominent non-conformists. He was elected to Sheffield Town Council
, serving many years and becoming an alderman
.
In 1892, Langley became Mayor of Sheffield, and saw an eventful year in office. Sheffield became a city
, while Langley organised a conference in the city, aiming to settle the 1893 UK coal strike. Claiming to represent the interests of the working class
, he was elected as the Member of Parliament
at the Sheffield Attercliffe by-election, 1894
. As an employer, he was a controversial choice, and the Independent Labour Party
stood a candidate against him.
Langley became the first President of the General Union of Railway Clerks in 1897, although he resigned due to ill health the following year. He retained his Parliamentary seat until he retired in 1909.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Liberal Party
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Born in Uppingham
Uppingham
Disambiguation: "Uppingham" is the colloquial name for Uppingham SchoolUppingham is a market town in the county of Rutland in the East Midlands of England, located on the A47 between Leicester and Peterborough, about 6 miles south of the county town, Oakham.- History :A little over a mile to the...
, Langley became a wealthy timber merchant in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, and one of the city's most prominent non-conformists. He was elected to Sheffield Town Council
Sheffield City Council
Sheffield City Council is the city council for the metropolitan borough of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It consists of 84 councillors, elected to represent 28 wards, each with three councillors...
, serving many years and becoming 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 1892, Langley became Mayor of Sheffield, and saw an eventful year in office. Sheffield became a city
City status in the United Kingdom
City status in the United Kingdom is granted by the British monarch to a select group of communities. The holding of city status gives a settlement no special rights other than that of calling itself a "city". Nonetheless, this appellation carries its own prestige and, consequently, competitions...
, while Langley organised a conference in the city, aiming to settle the 1893 UK coal strike. Claiming to represent the interests of the working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
, he was elected as the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
at the Sheffield Attercliffe by-election, 1894
Sheffield Attercliffe by-election, 1894
A by-election was held for the British House of Commons constituency of Sheffield Attercliffe on 5 July 1894. It was the first parliamentary election contested by the Independent Labour Party.-Background:...
. As an employer, he was a controversial choice, and the Independent Labour Party
Independent Labour Party
The Independent Labour Party was a socialist political party in Britain established in 1893. The ILP was affiliated to the Labour Party from 1906 to 1932, when it voted to leave...
stood a candidate against him.
Langley became the first President of the General Union of Railway Clerks in 1897, although he resigned due to ill health the following year. He retained his Parliamentary seat until he retired in 1909.