Benjamin Whitworth
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Benjamin Whitworth (24 May 1816 – 24 September 1893) was an Irish politician, who represented constituencies in Ireland at the United Kingdom Parliament in Westminster, London.


Early life

Benjamin Whitworth was born in Manchester in 1816. He came to
Drogheda Drogheda ( , ; , meaning "bridge at the ford") is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, north of Dublin. It is located on the Dublin–Belfast corridor on the east coast of Ireland, mostly in County Louth ...
as a child; his father was a corn merchant. Benjamin was educated in England, and he later went into business himself in Manchester. However he returned to Drogheda, and founded the Greenmount and Boyne Mills in 1865. This factory once employed 1,200 people and exported linen throughout the world.


Parliamentary career

He was returned for
Drogheda Drogheda ( , ; , meaning "bridge at the ford") is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, north of Dublin. It is located on the Dublin–Belfast corridor on the east coast of Ireland, mostly in County Louth ...
, as a Liberal, in the 1865 general election. However his 1868 re-election was declared void and he was replaced by his son Thomas Whitworth, in an unopposed by-election on 15 March 1869. Benjamin Whitworth was elected
Member of Parliament A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members of ...
for
Kilkenny City Kilkenny (). is a city in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is located in the South-East Region and in the province of Leinster. It is built on both banks of the River Nore. The 2016 census gave the total population of Kilkenny as 26,512. Kilkenn ...
, in a by-election in 1875. He resigned in 1880 to contest the
Drogheda Drogheda ( , ; , meaning "bridge at the ford") is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, north of Dublin. It is located on the Dublin–Belfast corridor on the east coast of Ireland, mostly in County Louth ...
constituency in a by-election as a Home Rule candidate. Elected unopposed in the 1880 general election, he sat as MP until the constituency was abolished in 1885.


Service to Drogheda

He was a major benefactor to the town of Drogheda, overseeing the construction of the public water supply system in the town. In 1865 he built the Whitworth Hall, located on St. Laurence's Street, which he later donated to the people of the town. He helped to build the Christian Brothers monastery, formerly at Sundays Gate. He was awarded the freedom of the Borough in 1877. Whitworth died in London in 1893 aged 77.


Legacy

John Porter John Porter may refer to: Politicians * John Porter (portreeve), 1390–94, Member of Parliament (MP) for Taunton *John Porter (Illinois politician) (1935–2022), Illinois politician, U.S. Representative * John Porter (MP for Bramber) (died 1599) ...
dedicated his 1876 publication, ''History of the Fylde of Lancashire'', to Whitworth "in admiration of his enterprise, generosity, and philanthropy".


References


Sources

* ''Parliamentary Election Results in Ireland, 1801-1922'', edited by B.M. Walker (Royal Irish Academy 1978)


External links

* 1816 births 1893 deaths UK MPs 1868–1874 UK MPs 1874–1880 UK MPs 1880–1885 Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for County Louth constituencies (1801–1922) Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for County Kilkenny constituencies (1801–1922) People from Drogheda Politicians from County Louth {{Ireland-UK-MP-stub