Illingworth, Henry

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Illingworth, Henry

Watercolour portrait of Henry Illingworth

From John Sowden's notebooks:

"Mr Illingworth was born in 1829. He was the second son of the late Mr Daniel Illingworth and the younger brothers of Mr Alfred Illingworth who was born in 1827 and who represented the Western Division of Bradford till 1895.
Mr Henry Illingworth's long and honourable career in his native town was mainly that of the businessman – although he rendered useful public services in an unobtrusive way. His life's work, however, was chiefly identified with the firm of Daniel Illingworth and Sons, worsted spinners. He was educated at Lambs Academy in Bradford and afterwards completed his studies at Huddersfield College. On leaving the college he at once entered commercial life with his father’s concern. Some troublesome times were passed through, but the firm was solidly established and both Mr Henry and Mr Alfred were taken into partnership. Mr Daniel Illingworth died in 1854 and the two sons became the sole owners of the concern.
Mr Henry Illingworth married in 1860, Mary, the eldest daughter of Sir (then Mr) Isaac Holden and there were five children of the marriage: three sons and two daughters. In politics Mr Henry was a Liberal and was for a long period the life and soul of the Liberal organisation of the town and for a long period was Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Bradford Liberal Association. He was a generous supporter of the Liberation Society and it is interesting to recall the fact that his father had the experience of having his goods seized for church dues.
Mr Henry Illingworth was a Baptist and along with others helped to carry out the scheme for the erection of two chapels, one in New Leeds and one at Girlington. He was a member of the Bradford Chamber of Commerce ten years and its president in 1882–3. He was one of the delegates selected by the Chamber of Commerce to enquire into the relative conditions of the worsted districts of France.
He was made a Justice of the Peace in 1880.
He was for some time a governor of the Bradford Infirmary and the Bradford Grammar School and was vice president of the Bradford Mechanics’ Institute until his death.
He died in 1895 in his 65th year."

Year

1889

Creator

John Sowden

Image filename

sowden-66