Christopher Wilkinson (Kit)

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Portrait of Christopher (Kit) Wilkinson, Age 85, printer, by John Sowden, 5 June 1888.

Born in Wakefield. He took an active part in the Anti Corn Law League, He serves on the Town Council twice for the Little Horton Ward in 1853-1859 and 1860-1866. He died at the age of 85.

Notes from Soden's notebook...

"Generally known to all his friends as 'Kit', he was a radical of the radicals and was an indefatigably speaker whenever occasion arose. He was a native of Wakefield, his mother being mistress of Green Court School. Having served his time as a bookbinder in his native town he came to Bradford to enter the service of Mr John Stansfield.

In the course of time he commenced business on his own account in Westgate and afterwards in Tyrrel Street. He possessed a strong intuitive faculty and quick apprehension on most subjects relating to morals and politics. In the year 1837 he took part in a public discussion in the Temperance Hall on the “Temporal Advantages of Christianity”, in which Mr Greg took the affirmative side and Mr Wilkinson the opposite.

When Dr Godwin delivered his course of lectures on “Atheism” Mr Wilkinson prepared a reply on behalf of a small Society of Secularists. This reply was published in pamphlet form.

He was an ardent political economist of the School of Malthus and Dr Chalmers and took an active part in the early days of the Anti Corn Law League.

He was twice returned to the Town Council for Little Horton Ward. He sat from 1853 to 1859 and from 1860 to 1866.

He died in his 85th year."

Year

1888

Creator

Sowden

Image filename

sowden-7