William Woodall (UK politician)
Encyclopedia
William Woodall was a British Liberal
politician, philanthropist and supporter of women's suffrage
.
Woodall was the elder son of William Woodall, of Shrewsbury
, and his wife Martha (née Basson), and was educated at Crescent Schools, Liverpool
. He worked for James Macintyre, china manufacturers, of Burslem
, becoming a senior partner on the latter's death in 1870, and was Chairman of the Sneyd Colliery Company. Apart from his business career he was Chairman of the Burslem school board from 1870 to 1880, of the Wedgwood Institute
and of the North Staffordshire Society for Promotion of the Welfare of the Deaf and Dumb and a member of the royal commission on technical education from 1881 to 1884 and on the care of blind and deaf mutes from 1886 to 1889.
In 1880 Woodall entered Parliament for Stoke-upon-Trent
, a seat he held until 1885, and then represented Hanley
until 1900. He served as Surveyor-General of the Ordnance
under William Ewart Gladstone
in 1886 and as Financial Secretary to the War Office
under Gladstone and later Lord Rosebery
from 1892 to 1895. However, he is best remembered as a supporter of women's suffrage in the House of Commons
. Woodall became leader of the woman suffrage party in the House of Commons in 1884 and several times unsuccessfully presented bills for the introduction of women's suffrage. He was also a firm supporter of Irish Home Rule.
Woodall married Evelyn, daughter of his employer James Macintyre, in 1862. They had no children. She died in 1870. Woodall remained a widower until his death in April 1901, aged 69.
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, philanthropist and supporter of women's suffrage
Women's suffrage
Women's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
.
Woodall was the elder son of William Woodall, of Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
, and his wife Martha (née Basson), and was educated at Crescent Schools, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. He worked for James Macintyre, china manufacturers, of Burslem
Burslem
The town of Burslem, known as the Mother Town, is one of the six towns that amalgamated to form the current city of Stoke-on-Trent, in the ceremonial county of Staffordshire, in the Midlands of England.-Topography:...
, becoming a senior partner on the latter's death in 1870, and was Chairman of the Sneyd Colliery Company. Apart from his business career he was Chairman of the Burslem school board from 1870 to 1880, of the Wedgwood Institute
Wedgwood Institute
The Wedgwood Institute is a large red-brick building that stands in Queen Street, in the town of Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England...
and of the North Staffordshire Society for Promotion of the Welfare of the Deaf and Dumb and a member of the royal commission on technical education from 1881 to 1884 and on the care of blind and deaf mutes from 1886 to 1889.
In 1880 Woodall entered Parliament for Stoke-upon-Trent
Stoke-upon-Trent (UK Parliament constituency)
Stoke-upon-Trent was a parliamentary borough in Staffordshire, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1832 until 1885, and then one member from 1885 until 1918, when the borough was enlarged, renamed Stoke-on-Trent, and split into three single-member...
, a seat he held until 1885, and then represented Hanley
Hanley (UK Parliament constituency)
Hanley was a borough constituency in Staffordshire which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom between 1885 and 1950. Elections were held using the first past the post voting system.- History :...
until 1900. He served as Surveyor-General of the Ordnance
Surveyor-General of the Ordnance
The Surveyor-General of the Ordnance was a subordinate of the Master-General of the Ordnance and a member of the Board of Ordnance from its constitution in 1597. Appointments to the post were made by the crown under Letters Patent. His duties were to examine the ordnance received to see that it was...
under William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
in 1886 and as Financial Secretary to the War Office
Financial Secretary to the War Office
Financial Secretary to the War Office was an office of the British government, the financial secretary of the War Office department.The post was combined with that of Under-Secretary of State for War from 17 April 1947....
under Gladstone and later Lord Rosebery
Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery
Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, KG, PC was a British Liberal statesman and Prime Minister. Between the death of his father, in 1851, and the death of his grandfather, the 4th Earl, in 1868, he was known by the courtesy title of Lord Dalmeny.Rosebery was a Liberal Imperialist who...
from 1892 to 1895. However, he is best remembered as a supporter of women's suffrage in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
. Woodall became leader of the woman suffrage party in the House of Commons in 1884 and several times unsuccessfully presented bills for the introduction of women's suffrage. He was also a firm supporter of Irish Home Rule.
Woodall married Evelyn, daughter of his employer James Macintyre, in 1862. They had no children. She died in 1870. Woodall remained a widower until his death in April 1901, aged 69.