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: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

wool Wool is the textile fibre 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 properties similar to animal wool. ...

merchant. Willey was born in Bradford and joined his father's wool business, which later became Francis Willey & Co Ltd and had agencies all over the Dominions and the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

. Willey was also a great horseman, huntsman and racehorse owner. He was created

Baron Barnby Baron Barnby, of Blyth in the County of Nottingham, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 26 January 1922 for Francis Willey, head of Francis Willey & Co Ltd, wool merchants. The title became extinct on the death of ...

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 here ...

. Willey was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant in the 2nd West Riding of Yorkshire Artillery Volunteers in December 1874. He was promoted Major 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 centuri ...

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 in the Highlands of Perthshire, close to the former site of Weem ...

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 Barons Barnby Royal Artillery officers High Sheriffs of Nottinghamshire Barons created by George V {{UK-baron-stub