John Brocklehurst
Encyclopedia
John Brocklehurst, DL
, MP
(30 October 1788 – 13 August 1870), known as John Brocklehurst the younger, was an English
silk manufacturer, banker and Liberal Party
politician from Macclesfield
in Cheshire
. He sat in the House of Commons for 36 years, from 1832 to 1868.
Brocklehurst was the second of three sons of John Brocklehurst, of Macclesfield and Lea-hall in Cheshire, and became a partner in one of the most successful banking an silk-manufacturing companies in Macclesfield.
Under the Reform Act 1832
, the town gained the right to elect two Members of Parliament
(MPs), and Brocklehurst was elected at the 1832 general election
as one of the first two MPs for the newly-enfranchised borough of Macclesfield
. He held the seat through nine further elections until he retired from Parliament
at the 1868 general election
, when his eldest son William Coare Brocklehurst
was elected in his place. He attended the House of Commons regularly, and although rarely spoke in the chamber, he was held in great respect by advanced Liberals. He was both a magistrate
and a Deputy Lieutenant
of the County Palatine
of Cheshire
.
in 1903.
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....
, MP
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,...
(30 October 1788 – 13 August 1870), known as John Brocklehurst the younger, was an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
silk manufacturer, banker and 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 from Macclesfield
Macclesfield
Macclesfield is a market town within the unitary authority of Cheshire East, the county palatine of Chester, also known as the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The population of the Macclesfield urban sub-area at the time of the 2001 census was 50,688...
in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
. He sat in the House of Commons for 36 years, from 1832 to 1868.
Brocklehurst was the second of three sons of John Brocklehurst, of Macclesfield and Lea-hall in Cheshire, and became a partner in one of the most successful banking an silk-manufacturing companies in Macclesfield.
Under the Reform Act 1832
Reform Act 1832
The Representation of the People Act 1832 was an Act of Parliament that introduced wide-ranging changes to the electoral system of England and Wales...
, the town gained the right to elect two Members 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,...
(MPs), and Brocklehurst was elected at the 1832 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1832
-Seats summary:-Parties and leaders at the general election:The Earl Grey had been Prime Minister since 22 November 1830. His was the first predominantly Whig administration since the Ministry of all the Talents in 1806-1807....
as one of the first two MPs for the newly-enfranchised borough of Macclesfield
Macclesfield (UK Parliament constituency)
Macclesfield is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
. He held the seat through nine further elections until he retired from Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
at the 1868 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1868
The 1868 United Kingdom general election was the first after passage of the Reform Act 1867, which enfranchised many male householders, thus greatly increasing the number of men who could vote in elections in the United Kingdom...
, when his eldest son William Coare Brocklehurst
William Coare Brocklehurst
William Coare Brocklehurst was an English Liberal Party politician and head of a family of silk producers in Macclesfield in the 19th century. He sat in the House of Commons from 1868 to 1880 and from 1885 to 1886....
was elected in his place. He attended the House of Commons regularly, and although rarely spoke in the chamber, he was held in great respect by advanced Liberals. He was both a magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
and a 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....
of the County Palatine
County palatine
A county palatine or palatinate is an area ruled by an hereditary nobleman possessing special authority and autonomy from the rest of a kingdom or empire. The name derives from the Latin adjective palatinus, "relating to the palace", from the noun palatium, "palace"...
of Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
.
Family
Brocklehurst married Mary Coare, with whom he had four daughters and four sons. His youngest son Philip Lancaster Brocklehurst was made a baronetBrocklehurst Baronets
The Brocklehurst Baronetcy, of Swythamley Park in Leek in the County of Stafford, was a title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 27 August 1903 for Philip Lancaster Brocklehurst...
in 1903.