John Grubb Richardson
Encyclopedia
John Grubb Richardson was a major Irish
industrialist who founded the model village
of Bessbrook
near Newry
, in what is now Northern Ireland
. He declined the offer of a baronetcy from David Lloyd George
.
merchant, and Anna Grubb, from Clonmel
, who lived at Glenmore House, outside Lisburn
, County Antrim
. Under his father the family firm, JN Richardson Sons and Owden had achieved great success and the family became one of the richest in Ireland. John Grubb, however, was to greatly advance the family and the firm.
At the age of eleven, Richardson was sent to board at Ballitore, County Kildare
- the same Quaker school attended by Edmund Burke
. He spent three years at Ballitore before being sent to another Quaker school at Frenchay
, Gloucestershire
. Despite wishing to further his education and become a barrister, Richardson entered the family firm aged 17.
values were evident and he refused to have a public house
or pawn brokers erected. One of John's five brothers ran an New York
office of the firm.
, County Down
. His estate surrounding his Bessbrook home at The Wood House and Derrymore House
(now a National Trust property) is a designated historic park.
Richardson turned down a Baronetcy from David Lloyd George
, a reward for his good works, due to his belief in equality. His eldest son by Helena Grubb, J. Nicholson Richardson
, was Liberal Member of Parliament for Armagh. His great-nephew was Sir Joseph Barcroft
, whose family home, The Glen, Newry, was purchased by Richardson for the Barcrofts.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
industrialist who founded the model village
Model village
A model village is a type of mostly self-contained community, in most cases built from the late eighteenth century onwards by industrialists to house their workers...
of Bessbrook
Bessbrook
Bessbrook is a village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It lies about three miles northwest of Newry and close to the main Dublin–Belfast road and rail line...
near Newry
Newry
Newry is a city in Northern Ireland. The River Clanrye, which runs through the city, formed the historic border between County Armagh and County Down. It is from Belfast and from Dublin. Newry had a population of 27,433 at the 2001 Census, while Newry and Mourne Council Area had a population...
, in what is now Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. He declined the offer of a baronetcy from David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
.
Early life
Richardson was the second of ten children of James Nicholson Richardson, a wealthy Quaker linenLinen
Linen is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant, Linum usitatissimum. Linen is labor-intensive to manufacture, but when it is made into garments, it is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather....
merchant, and Anna Grubb, from Clonmel
Clonmel
Clonmel is the county town of South Tipperary in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county. While the borough had a population of 15,482 in 2006, another 17,008 people were in the rural hinterland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian army which sacked both...
, who lived at Glenmore House, outside Lisburn
Lisburn
DemographicsLisburn Urban Area is within Belfast Metropolitan Urban Area and is classified as a Large Town by the . On census day there were 71,465 people living in Lisburn...
, County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
. Under his father the family firm, JN Richardson Sons and Owden had achieved great success and the family became one of the richest in Ireland. John Grubb, however, was to greatly advance the family and the firm.
At the age of eleven, Richardson was sent to board at Ballitore, County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
- the same Quaker school attended by Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke PC was an Irish statesman, author, orator, political theorist and philosopher who, after moving to England, served for many years in the House of Commons of Great Britain as a member of the Whig party....
. He spent three years at Ballitore before being sent to another Quaker school at Frenchay
Frenchay
Frenchay is a suburb of Bristol, England, to the north east of the city, but located mainly in South Gloucestershire and the Civil Parish of Winterbourne....
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
. Despite wishing to further his education and become a barrister, Richardson entered the family firm aged 17.
Business career
In 1845 he built Bessbrook to house 4,000 workers at his mill there; in planning the village his ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
values were evident and he refused to have a public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
or pawn brokers erected. One of John's five brothers ran an New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
office of the firm.
Personal and later life
Richardson was married twice; his first wife, Helena Grubb (27 March 1819-7 December 1849) of Cahir Abbey, Co. Tipperaray, died during childbirth - he subsequently married Jane Marion Wakefield, of Moyallon House, Co. Down. He died at Moyallon House, an estate inherited through his second wife's family, near GilfordGilford
Gilford is a village in County Down, Northern Ireland. The village sits on the River Bann between the towns of Banbridge, Tandragee and Portadown. It covers the townlands of Loughans, Ballymacanallen and Drumaran. It had a population of 1,573 people in the 2001 Census...
, County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
. His estate surrounding his Bessbrook home at The Wood House and Derrymore House
Derrymore House
Derrymore House is a National Trust property in Bessbrook, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is open to the public and is described by the National Trust as a "late 18th-century thatched house in gentrified vernacular style".-Features:...
(now a National Trust property) is a designated historic park.
Richardson turned down a Baronetcy from David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
, a reward for his good works, due to his belief in equality. His eldest son by Helena Grubb, J. Nicholson Richardson
James Nicholson Richardson
James Nicholson Richardson was an Irish Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1880 to 1885....
, was Liberal Member of Parliament for Armagh. His great-nephew was Sir Joseph Barcroft
Joseph Barcroft
Sir Joseph Barcroft CBE, FRS was a British physiologist best known for his studies of the oxygenation of blood....
, whose family home, The Glen, Newry, was purchased by Richardson for the Barcrofts.