William John Battersby
William John Battersby JP (30 June 1839 – 22 February 1915) was a British hat manufacturer, of Battersby Hats.
Early life and family[edit]
William John Battersby was born in Edward Street, Stockport in 1839, the son of William Battersby (1797–1851) and his wife Sarah Norfolk. He married Mary Oldham (4 Mar 1840, Stockport – 5 March 1909, Stockport), and they had eleven children, nine of whom survived infancy:[1]
- Walter Battersby (31 May 1877, Stockport – 21 January 1955, Knutsford, Cheshire)
- William Norfolk Battersby (1864-1 September 1953)[2]
- George Battersby (1867–)
- Frederic John Battersby (January 1869 – March 1915)[3]
- Frank Battersby (September 1873 –)
- James Johnson Battersby (1875–1949), director of Battersby Hats, was travelling as a first class passenger on the RMS Lusitania when the ship was sunk[4] by a torpedoed fired from a German U-boat. He was the last survivor to be rescued from the ship.[5]
- Ernest Battersby (1878, Stockport – 1 October 1918, Yvetot, near Rouen, France)[6]
- Edgar Battersby (1881 – 29 April 1917, Arras, France)[1]
Edgar and three of his brothers became directors or managers at Battersby Hats.[1]
His grandson was British fascist James Larratt Battersby.
Career[edit]
Battersby was awarded a patent in 1896, for "Improvements in and connected with Hats, Caps, and similar Head Coverings", along with his son William Norfolk Battersby.[7] He was awarded another patent in 1900, for "Improvements in Machines for Curling and Ironing Hat Brims", along with Edward Edwards.[8]
He was also a Justice of the peace.[9]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Edgar BATTERSBY". More Than A Name. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ "William Norfolk Battersby" (PDF). thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
- ^ Frederick John Battersby on Lives of the First World War
- ^ James Johnson Battersby. Merseyside Maritime Museum. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ "Lusitania Survivor", Evening Telegraph and Post, Dundee, 24 September 1949, p. 1.
- ^ "Ernest Battersby's Edwardian abundance". maryevans. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ "[en] Improvements in and connected with Hats, Caps, and similar Head Coverings. United Kingdom Patent 189618600-A". ipexl. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ "[en] Improvements in Machines for Curling and Ironing Hat Brims. United Kingdom Patent 190004418-A". ipexl. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ The Royal British Legion. "Every Man Remembered – Soldier Profile Private Edgar Battersby". Every Man Remembered.