Samuel MORLEY M.P

Person Sheet


Name Samuel MORLEY M.P [400], M
Birth 15 Oct 1809, Homerton, Middlesex, England [1190], [229]
Death 5 Sep 1886 [63] Age: 76
Occupation Manufacturer of hosiery and Politician [1190]
Misc. Notes
MORLEY, SAMUEL (1809-1886), English manufacturer and politician, was born at Homerton, not then a part of London, on the 15th of October 1809, the youngest son of a Nottingham hosier. His father, John, and his uncle, Richard, were the founders of the already prosperous Nottingham firm of I. & R. Morley, dealers in hosiery made in the cottages of the local knitters, and as early as 1797 they had opened a London warehouse, in the counting-room of which Samuel Morley began his career at sixteen. On his fathers retirement in 1840 be became practical bead of the London concern, and when his brothers retired in 1855 sole owner. In 1860 he was sole owner also of the Nottingham business. Under excellent management the business grew rapidly into the largest of the kind in the world, with huge mills at Nottingham and in Leicestershire and Derbyshire employing thousands of hands. In 1865 Morley was elected M.P. for Nottingham, and from 1868-1885 he sat for one of the Bristol divisions. He was a strong Liberal and a whole-hearted supporter of Gladstone, who in 1885 offered him a peerage. He was one of the principal proprietors of the London Daily News, the chief Liberal organ of the period, and it was owing to him that its price was reduced from 3d. to Id. and its losses turned to great gains. Morley was a deeply religious man. Like his father before him, he was a Dissenter, and for many years he strongly opposed every scheme of state interference with education. He was keenly interested in the temperance movement, and during the closing years of his life his public energies were chiefly confined to its promotion. His philanthropy was active, his charity widespread and munificent, and he was a model employer. He died on the 5th of September 1886. His son, Arnold Morley (b. 1849), was Liberal M.P. for Nottingham from 1880-1885, and for East Nottingham from 1885-1895. From 1886-1892 he was chief Liberal whip, and from 1892-1895 postmaster-general [1190]
1881: Resided 34 Lower Grosvenor St, London, Middlesex, England
10 Servants in household [229]
A benefactor, founder of the England's first children's library. A tee-totaller and supporter of Y.M.C.A.1
Samuel Morley was MP for Bristol from 1868 to 1885. This millionaire philanthropist donated �20,000 annually for several years to deserving causes and was well-liked by Bristolians.
On his memorial tablet in the Cathedral are some lines by George Herbert beginning:
"Be useful where thou livest, that they may
Both want and wish thy pleasing presence still."
The statue, by Bristol born sculptor J Havard Thomas, was originally sited near Bristol Bridge in 1887. It became an obstruction to traffic and was moved to the Horsefair in 1921. Recently the grand old man was uprooted once more to be replaced by what is called by the Council, "the gateway feature at the St James' Place entrance to Broadmead." Morley's statue now stands on a large traffic island in Lewin's Mead.
Spouses
1 Rebekah Maria HOPE [400], F
Birth 29 Oct 1818, Liverpool, Lancashire [400], [229]
Christen 15 Dec 1818, Bethesda Chapel Duncan Street East-Independent Or Liverpoolional, Liverpool, Lancashire, England [261] Age: <1
Father Samuel HOPE, M (1781-1837)
Mother Rebekah BATEMAN, F (1794-1837)
Misc. Notes
IGI has another christening entry for Lime Street Independent, Liverpool, Date of birth listed 29 Oct 1818. [261]
1881: Age 62 [229]
Marriage 19 May 1841, England [63]
Children Charles, M (1847-)
Arnold, M (1849-1916)
Mary, F (~1855-)
Last Modified 15 Nov 2004 Created 19 Feb 2005 by Stephen & Karen Karner (Reunion 7.05 for Macs)

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