Francis Willey, 1st Baron Barnby, (27 February 1841 – 16 February 1929) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

wool Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and other mammals, especially goats, rabbits, and camelids. The term may also refer to inorganic materials, such as mineral wool and glass wool, that have some properties similar to animal w ...

merchant. Willey was born in

Bradford Bradford is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in West Yorkshire, England. It became a municipal borough in 1847, received a city charter in 1897 and, since the Local Government Act 1972, 1974 reform, the city status in the United Kingdo ...

and joined his father's wool business, which later became Francis Willey & Co Ltd and had agencies all over the

Dominions A dominion was any of several largely self-governing countries of the British Empire, once known collectively as the ''British Commonwealth of Nations''. Progressing from colonies, their degrees of colonial self-governance increased (and, in ...

and the

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. Willey was also a great horseman, huntsman and

racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...

owner. He was created Baron Barnby in the

1922 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 1922 were appointments by King George V to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by members of the British Empire. They were published on 30 December 1921. The recipients of honours are displayed her ...

. Willey was commissioned sub-lieutenant in the 2nd West Riding of Yorkshire Artillery Volunteers in December 1874. He was promoted

major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...

in May 1888 and resigned in April 1891. His seat was Blyth Hall, Nottinghamshire. He was appointed

High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire This is a list of the High Sheriffs of the English county of Nottinghamshire. The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centu ...

for 1908. He was succeeded in the barony by his only son, Vernon. He bought

Castle Menzies Castle Menzies in Scotland is the ancestral seat of the Clan Menzies and the Menzies Baronets. It is located a little to the west of the small village of Weem, near Aberfeldy, Scotland, Aberfeldy in the Scottish Highlands, Highlands of Perth ...

near Aberfeldy and 11,600 acres of estate in 1918 for £69,000 ). On his death, his widow put the estate up for sale in April 1930.

Footnotes

References

*Obituary, ''

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'', 18 February 1929 1841 births 1929 deaths Businesspeople from Bradford 1 Royal Artillery officers High sheriffs of Nottinghamshire Barons created by George V {{UK-business-bio-1840s-stub