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Edward Ryley Langworthy

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Edward Ryley Langworthy
Member of Parliament for Salford
In office
February 1857 – April 1857
Preceded byJoseph Brotherton
Succeeded byWilliam Nathaniel Massey
Ceremonial Mayor of Salford
In office
1848–1850
Alderman of Trinity
In office
1848–
Preceded byNone
Personal details
Born1797
London, England
Died7 April 1874
Political partyIndependent, Whig
OccupationBusinessman, Politician

Edward Ryley (or Riley) Langworthy (1797 – 7 April 1874) was a British businessman and an independent but Whig-leaning politician.

Early life

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Langworthy was born in 1797 London, the son of a Somerset merchant. He worked in Central and South America for 12 years as a textile merhcant for C. Taylor & Sons.[1]

Cotton industry

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In 1837 he moved to Salford, Lancashire to join his brother George's cotton business alongside their other brother, Lewis.[1][2] George Langworthy & Co. was first established around 1822, then became Langworthy Brothers & Co. based at Greengate Mill on the bank of the River Irwell.[3][4]

Political career

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When Salford was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1844, Langworthy was elected as the first alderman for Trinity ward. He was the borough's fifth mayor, elected for two consecutive terms from 1848 to 1850.[3] His term as mayor saw the establishment of the free public museum and library at Peel Park.[1]

In January 1857, Salford's Whig Member of Parliament, Joseph Brotherton, died. Langworthy was selected as the party's candidate for the vacancy, and as the only nominee, was elected unopposed on 2 February. Following his election he gave a speech outlining his political views: he supported the temperance movement, free trade and civil and religious freedom, the reform of parliament, strengthened local government, but opposed any increase in the size of the country's armed forces.[5] He was only Salford's MP for a matter of months, as he did not stand at the subsequent 1857 general election.

Death and legacy

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Langworthy retained his connection with Salford Corporation[clarification needed], and on his death in 1874 left £10,000 to the museum and library he had helped establish. Langworthy Road, constructed shortly after his death, was named in his memory by Salford Borough Council.[3] Edward also left £100,000 (equivalent to £11,800,000 in 2023)[6] to George’s son.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Morris, Edward (2001). Public art collections in north-west England : a history and guide. Liverpool : Liverpool University Press. ISBN 978-0-85323-527-9. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  2. ^ a b "Langworthy Brothers | Science and Industry Museum". Science and Industry Museum blog. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Tracing Some Local Historical Roots". Seedley and Langworthy in Bloom. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  4. ^ "Langworthy Brothers & Co Ltd | Science Museum Group Collection". collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  5. ^ Election Intelligence, Salford, 3 February 1857, p. 12
  6. ^ United Kingdom Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the MeasuringWorth "consistent series" supplied in Thomas, Ryland; Williamson, Samuel H. (2024). "What Was the U.K. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Salford
1857
Succeeded by