John Wilhelm Rowntree
Encyclopedia
John Wilhelm Rowntree was a chocolate and confectionery manufacturer and Quaker religious activist and reformer.
He was born September 4, 1868 in York, the eldest son of Joseph Rowntree
(1836–1925) and his second wife, Antoinette Seebohm (1846–1924).
He was a successful business man, vastly expanding the already successful family chocolate business. He played a large part in enabling the Religious Society of Friends to incorporate an understanding of modern science (such as the theory of evolution
), modern biblical criticism
, and the social meaning of Jesus
's teaching into their belief systems. He helped establish Woodbrooke, the Quaker study centre in Bournville
, Birmingham.
He died March 9, 1905, in New York
.
His only son Lawrence was killed in action during the Great War. Originally a volunteer orderly with the Friends Ambulance at Dunkirk, he subsequently joined the British Army and fought in the first tank action at Flers-Courcellette on 15 Sep 1916 as a member of the crew of HMLS Creme-de-Menthe. He was later commissioned into the Royal Field Artillery and was killed on 25 Nov 1917 in the Ypres Salient.
He was born September 4, 1868 in York, the eldest son of Joseph Rowntree
Joseph Rowntree (philanthropist)
Joseph Rowntree was a Quaker philanthropist and businessman from York, England. Rowntree is perhaps best known for being a champion of social reform and his time as a chocolatier at family business Rowntree's, one of the most important in Britain...
(1836–1925) and his second wife, Antoinette Seebohm (1846–1924).
He was a successful business man, vastly expanding the already successful family chocolate business. He played a large part in enabling the Religious Society of Friends to incorporate an understanding of modern science (such as the theory of evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
), modern biblical criticism
Biblical criticism
Biblical criticism is the scholarly "study and investigation of Biblical writings that seeks to make discerning judgments about these writings." It asks when and where a particular text originated; how, why, by whom, for whom, and in what circumstances it was produced; what influences were at work...
, and the social meaning of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
's teaching into their belief systems. He helped establish Woodbrooke, the Quaker study centre in Bournville
Bournville
Bournville is a model village on the south side of Birmingham, England, best known for its connections with the Cadbury family and chocolate – including a dark chocolate bar branded "Bournville". It is also a ward within the council constituency of Selly Oak and home to the Bournville Centre...
, Birmingham.
He died March 9, 1905, in 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...
.
His only son Lawrence was killed in action during the Great War. Originally a volunteer orderly with the Friends Ambulance at Dunkirk, he subsequently joined the British Army and fought in the first tank action at Flers-Courcellette on 15 Sep 1916 as a member of the crew of HMLS Creme-de-Menthe. He was later commissioned into the Royal Field Artillery and was killed on 25 Nov 1917 in the Ypres Salient.
Publications
- A History of the Adult School Movement (with Henry Bryan Binns). 1903.
- Essays and addresses. 1905.
- The Lay Ministry
- Man's Relation to God, and other addresses ... With life of the author (compiled by S. Elizabeth Robson from the introductions written by Joshua Rowntree to “Essays and Addresses” and “Palestine Notes” 1917)
- Palestine Notes, and other papers ... Edited by Joshua Rowntree.1906.
- Present Day Papers. Vol. 1 edited ... by J. W. Rowntree. (Vol. 2-5, etc., edited by J. W. Rowntree and H. B. Binns.).1898-1902.