William Beamont
Encyclopedia
William Beamont was a Victorian solicitor and local philanthropist, living in the town of Warrington
, in the north-west of England
.
He was the first mayor
of Warrington after its incorporation as a municipal borough
in 1847. As mayor, he founded its municipal library, the first rate-aided library in the UK, in 1848. He travelled extensively, including in the Holy Land
, where he met William Holman Hunt
. His diaries, stored in the town's main library, are a valuable source of social history.
A high school and a primary school in the town are named after him.
His son, William John Beamont
, was a clergyman and author.
His grave lies in the churchyard of Christ Church, Padgate
, one of several Church of England
churches that he helped found.
Warrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
, in the north-west of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
He was the first mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Warrington after its incorporation as a municipal borough
Municipal borough
Municipal boroughs were a type of local government district which existed in England and Wales between 1835 and 1974, in Northern Ireland from 1840 to 1973 and in the Republic of Ireland from 1840 to 2002...
in 1847. As mayor, he founded its municipal library, the first rate-aided library in the UK, in 1848. He travelled extensively, including in the Holy Land
Holy Land
The Holy Land is a term which in Judaism refers to the Kingdom of Israel as defined in the Tanakh. For Jews, the Land's identifiction of being Holy is defined in Judaism by its differentiation from other lands by virtue of the practice of Judaism often possible only in the Land of Israel...
, where he met William Holman Hunt
William Holman Hunt
William Holman Hunt OM was an English painter, and one of the founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.-Biography:...
. His diaries, stored in the town's main library, are a valuable source of social history.
A high school and a primary school in the town are named after him.
His son, William John Beamont
William John Beamont
William John Beamont , was an English clergyman and author.-Life:Beamont was born at Warrington, Lancashire, 16 January 1828, being the only son of William Beamont, solicitor, of that town, and author of Annals of the Lords of Warrington, and other works...
, was a clergyman and author.
His grave lies in the churchyard of Christ Church, Padgate
Padgate
Padgate was a village on the edge of Warrington, England, and today it is a large residential part of the town. During World War II it had a small RAF Station. RAF Padgate will be well-remembered by thousands of young men who were selected for RAF national service and on this site received their...
, one of several Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
churches that he helped found.