John Priestman
Encyclopedia
Sir John Priestman, 1st Baronet (22 March 1855 – 5 August 1941) was a British shipbuilder
and charitable benefactor.
Priestman was born in Bishop Auckland
, County Durham
, the son of Robert Priestman (1824-1867), a baker, and Jane Smith (c.1830-1903).
Aged 14, Priestman became an apprentice to John Blumer, a shipbuilder at Sunderland, and later became chief draughtsman
at W. Pickersgill & Sons
. In 1882, he setup his own yard at Castletown. He married Naomi Huntly (1857-1908) in 1881 at Sunderland.
Priestman donated £6000 to the building of St Andrew's Church, Roker
(completed in 1907), which was built in memory to his mother. In 1931, he established the Sir John Priestman Trust, whose purposes included 'feeding of poor... in times of distress', the 'employment and payment of nurses for the sick and infirm' and the building, 'maintaining and furnishing (including provision of organs)' of 'churches and mission halls and schools'. In 1933 he donated £35,000 to the rebuilding of St Michael's Church
and in 1939 he financed £20,000 for the construction of the Priestman Building, originally a library for Sunderland Technical College and now part of the University of Sunderland
.
Priestman was gazetted
a Knight Bachelor
for "public and political services in Sunderland" on 29 June 1923 and was knighted at Buckingham Palace
by George V
on 25 July.. He was further gazetted a Baronet
, of Monkwearmouth in the County of Durham, for "services to many social organisations in Durham" on 1 June 1934 and his letters patent
were issued on 30 June.
Priestman died in 1941, aged 86. As he died without male heirs, his baronetcy became extinct.
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
and charitable benefactor.
Priestman was born in Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland is a market town and civil parish in County Durham in north east England. It is located about northwest of Darlington and southwest of Durham at the confluence of the River Wear with its tributary the River Gaunless...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, the son of Robert Priestman (1824-1867), a baker, and Jane Smith (c.1830-1903).
Aged 14, Priestman became an apprentice to John Blumer, a shipbuilder at Sunderland, and later became chief draughtsman
Draughtsman
A draughtsman or draftsman , is a person skilled in drawing, either:*drawing for artistic purposes, or*technical drawing for practical purposes such as architecture or engineering...
at W. Pickersgill & Sons
A&P Group
A&P Group Ltd is the largest ship repair and conversion company in the UK, with three shipyards located in Hebburn, Middlesbrough and Falmouth. The Company undertakes a wide variety of maintenance and repair work on commercial and military ships with projects ranging from a two day alongside repair...
. In 1882, he setup his own yard at Castletown. He married Naomi Huntly (1857-1908) in 1881 at Sunderland.
Priestman donated £6000 to the building of St Andrew's Church, Roker
St Andrew's Church, Roker
St Andrew's, Roker in Sunderland, England is recognised as one of the finest churches of the first half of the twentieth century and the masterpiece of Edward Schroeder Prior. The design of St Andrew's drew together many of the strings of Prior's philosophy and approach to design and building...
(completed in 1907), which was built in memory to his mother. In 1931, he established the Sir John Priestman Trust, whose purposes included 'feeding of poor... in times of distress', the 'employment and payment of nurses for the sick and infirm' and the building, 'maintaining and furnishing (including provision of organs)' of 'churches and mission halls and schools'. In 1933 he donated £35,000 to the rebuilding of St Michael's Church
Sunderland Minster
Sunderland Minster Church of St. Michaels and All Angels is a church in Sunderland city centre, England. It was known as St. Michael's Church, serving the parish of Bishopwearmouth, but was renamed on 11 January 1998 in recognition of Sunderland's city status. In May 2007 the Minister ceased to...
and in 1939 he financed £20,000 for the construction of the Priestman Building, originally a library for Sunderland Technical College and now part of the University of Sunderland
University of Sunderland
The University of Sunderland is located in Sunderland, north east England. The university has more than 17,500 students, including 7,000-plus international students from some 70 countries....
.
Priestman was gazetted
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
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...
for "public and political services in Sunderland" on 29 June 1923 and was knighted at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
by George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
on 25 July.. He was further gazetted a Baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
, of Monkwearmouth in the County of Durham, for "services to many social organisations in Durham" on 1 June 1934 and his letters patent
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
were issued on 30 June.
Priestman died in 1941, aged 86. As he died without male heirs, his baronetcy became extinct.