Elkanah Armitage

Sir Elkanah Armitage, (1794 – 26 November 1876) was a British Industrialist and Liberal Politician.

Early Life

Born the third of six sons of a farmer and linen weaver from Failsworth, Manchester. He left school at the age of 8 and went to work in the cotton industry, along with two of his brothers, at George Nadin & Nephews, and soon rose to become manager on account of his diligence and growing shrewdness in business. [http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/celebs/politicians10.htm]

Personal Life

In 1816 he married Mary Bowers. Mary died in 1836 having borne him eight children; Elkanah, Benjamin, Samuel, Joseph, John, Rebecca, Jane Ann, Mary Bowers. Elkanah then married Eliza and had one further son Vernon. Eliza died in 1868.

Elkanah lived at Gore Hill, Pendleton Green until 1853 when he purchased Hope Hall, Pendleton. [Salford Through the Ages, CP Hampson]

Industrial Career

In the 1810's Elkanah and Mary set up in business as drapers in Chapel Street, Salford, then sometime shortly after 1822 he set up a weaving manufacture business with James Thompson and by 1829 he was employing 29 workers and selling his cloths in Manchester at considerable profit. The business was so successful that he was able to build a new factory at Pendleton and eventually employed 200 people making sailcloth, ginghams and checks. By 1848, despite economic slumps he had extended Pendleton New Mill and was employing over 600. In 1867 the Armitages took over the Nassau Mills in Patricroft. [http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/celebs/politicians10.htm]

Political Career

Elkanah became active in politics from a young age and his name appeared on the Manchester petition for the abolition of the Slave Trade in 1806. [http://slavetrade.parliament.uk/slavetrade/assetviews/documents/a50mancpetitionforabolition.html?ref=true] .

In 1838, he was elected as a liberal politician to Manchester's first Municipal Council as the representative of Exchange Ward, he became an alderman in 1841 [http://www.mancuniensis.info/Chronology/Chronology1876FPX.htm] . He served as Mayor of Manchester between 1846 and 1848 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Lord_Mayors_of_Manchester] .

In 1857 Armitage stood for Parliament, unsuccessfully opposing Mr WN Massey for the seat of Salford [Salford Through the Ages, CP Hampson] and in 1866 he was appointed High Sheriff of the County of Lancashire [http://www.holtancestry.co.uk/pdf/high_sheriffs.pdf] .

Armitage was a lifelong friend and supporter of John Bright and the Anti-Corn Law League. He shared Bright's Pacifist stance and spoke out against the War in the Crimea, in opposition to Prime Minister Palmerston [http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/celebs/politicians10.htm] . He was knighted for his services to The Chartist Movement [Salford Through the Ages, CP Hampson]

He served for many years as Chairman of the Governors of the Manchester Grammar School and as a Governor of Manchester Royal Infirmary. He was also a Salford Police Commissioner.

Death

Sir Elkanah died on the 26th November 1876 at Hope Hall at the age of 82, his funeral procession was half a mile long and was made up of a hundred carriages. His mortal remains were laid to rest at Weaste Cemetery. [Salford Through the Ages, CP Hampson]

His will which was passed on the 13th January 1877, valued his estate at £200,000. [http://www.old-merseytimes.co.uk/Wills.html]

References