Shackleton, Robert JP

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Watercolour portrait of Robert Shackleton JP by John Sowden, May 1897.

from John Sowden's notebooks:

"Was born in Leeds in 1842 and began to work at the age of eight. His wages were 8 pence per week. He passed through every stage in the spinning mill, working overtime in the evenings at engines and boilers. During his youth and early manhood he was on the engineering side of the mill. In 1863 he began business on his own account in the rag, waste and paper trade in Brick Lane.

As business expanded, larger premises were opened, and in 1871 he was joined by his father and brother. In 1874 Mr Shackleton purchased Horsefall's Mill, North Wing which he reconstructed for the purposes of paper mills, now carried on by J Shackleton and Son Ltd.

After the death of his father and brother Mr Shackleton took his eldest son Frank and afterwards his son Arthur into partnership and they have for many years carried on the business on their own account.

Mr Shackleton entered public life in 1883 when he was elected unopposed to the Town Council for the East Ward. On the death of his father Mr Shackleton retired from municipal work; but then being persuaded to seek re-election he stood and was returned for the Manningham Ward without a contest.

For 2 1/2 years he held the onerous post with great success as Chief Engineer for the Bradford Dyers Association. In 1904 the Bradford Commercial Bank at meetings of the shareholders decided to sell the bank and liquidate the business. Mr Shackleton was one of those liquidators and at the same time he was appointed receiver for the firm of Abraham Kellett and Sons Ltd, contractors in which the bank had a considerable interest. Mr Shackleton was the chief actor in all those multifarious properties: The Birmingham Waterworks, the huge properties in London, the Union Warehouses in Bradford and of the Knightsbridge and Bradford Estates, Mr Shackleton was appointed Chairman and Managing Director.

Mr Shackleton undertook the entire charge of Barkerend Mills and Estates for the Bradford Banking Company and after four years successful management he brought the entire works estate in 1912.

Mr Shackleton was married in 1863 and celebrated his golden wedding in 1913. He has two sons and five daughters."

Year

1897

Creator

John Sowden

Image filename

sowden-122