![MarsdenStatue](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/MarsdenStatue.jpg)
Henry Rowland Marsden (20 July 1823 – 19 January 1876) was a
philanthropist
Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...
and (
Liberal
Liberal or liberalism may refer to:
Politics
* a supporter of liberalism
** Liberalism by country
* an adherent of a Liberal Party
* Liberalism (international relations)
* Sexually liberal feminism
* Social liberalism
Arts, entertainment and m ...
)
Mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...
of
Leeds
Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by populati ...
for 1873 to 1875, said to be the most popular Victorian
mayor of Leeds
The Lord Mayor of Leeds (until 1897 known as the Mayor of Leeds) is a ceremonial post held by a member of Leeds City Council, elected annually by the council.
By charter from King Charles I in 1626, the leader of the governing body of the bo ...
.
Early life
Henry Marsden was born in
Holbeck
Holbeck is an inner city area of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It begins on the southern edge of Leeds city centre and mainly lies in the LS11 postcode district. The M1 and M621 motorways used to end/begin in Holbeck. Now the M621 is the o ...
,
Leeds
Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by populati ...
on 20 July 1823 to poor parents, headed by an ex-military father. Having survived a potential drowning aged 6, he started work aged 7 making "yells" for just one shilling and sixpence. It is estimated that, aside from his periods crossing the Atlantic, Marsden was never out of work again, gaining new employment always on the same day he lost it, including several apprenticeships in engineering and a position teaching at the Sweet Street Wesleyan Methodist Sunday School, which he had once attended. Aged 15 Marsden took up one of these apprenticeships and began his lifetime of inventing, culminating with his first original design, a sliver roving machine for the use of flax spinners. By the end of his apprenticeship he had married Sarah Hawling, born on 10 December 1826 to a local butcher.
America
By April 1848 English trade was sufficiently poor that the new Marsden family emigrated to the United States, settling in New York for over a year. Here he began to build up his long list of engineering patents that would become the basis of his wealth, including but not limited to patents for a “cut-off” for steam engines, several sugar mill "improvements", one of the best steam pumps in use for the rest of his life and "improvements" in lathes and planning machines. The family then moved to Newhaven, Connecticut in 1850, where Marsden's inventions and improvements continued to be conceived and produced, and it was here that he began to truly make a name for himself as a great engineer on the highway to fortune.
In 1855, after a brief return to Leeds in the previous year, Marsden had made that which would make him world-famous amongst engineers; the Stone Crusher, which made profits far greater than Marsden or any of his colleagues could predict as it quickly sold across the globe.
Despite his successes, Marsden's time in America was not without setbacks, and in 1858 a fire broke out in his store, above which the family lived, destroying effectively all their belongings and stock.
Marsden and a Mr William Hubbell saved Marsden's wife, two daughters and two other children of the family, with Marsden himself very nearly dying from the fumes and sustaining cuts from glass from a window broken by his head, then pushed through with his shoulder to save his four-year-old son.
Return to England
In spite of the fire, Marsden was able to return a wealthy man to Leeds in 1862, setting up a factory for patent stone-crushing machinery to take advantage of the demand at that time for road building.
[''Leeds Mercury'' 19 January 1876, page 5 ''Sudden Death of Ald. Marsden''] He received 45 first class gold and silver medals and honours for his inventions, which continued to provide him with the wealth to enable him to donate both time and money to public life.
His interest in local affairs led him to the
Liberal Party and he was elected as local
councillor
A councillor is an elected representative for a local government council in some countries.
Canada
Due to the control that the provinces have over their municipal governments, terms that councillors serve vary from province to province. Unl ...
for
Holbeck
Holbeck is an inner city area of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It begins on the southern edge of Leeds city centre and mainly lies in the LS11 postcode district. The M1 and M621 motorways used to end/begin in Holbeck. Now the M621 is the o ...
in 1866 with the biggest majority then recorded, becoming an
alderman
An alderman is a member of a Municipal government, municipal assembly or council in many Jurisdiction, jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council membe ...
in 1872 and
mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...
in 1873.
He also served as chief
magistrate
The term magistrate is used in a variety of systems of governments and laws to refer to a civilian officer who administers the law. In ancient Rome, a '' magistratus'' was one of the highest ranking government officers, and possessed both judici ...
for six years.
[''Leeds Mercury'' 8 July 1882, page 8, ''Yorkshire Anecdotes - 193 Alderman Marsden's Generosity'']
It was said that "from the beginning he conducted the business of the town and of the Council without consideration of sect, party or denomination, acting with strict impartiality and goodwill to all", with "prejudice, passion, and personal preference has been concealed by a manly English patriotism”.
Additionally, he is recorded to have donated per year to good causes, and each "great local movement during 1873-4 and 1874-5
aseither initiated or spurred on by his judgement, generosity, and energy".
Death and legacy
He died suddenly on 19 January 1876, leaving a widow, Sarah, two daughters and a son.
He is buried in Holbeck Cemetery in
Beeston where his grave is marked by a
Grade II-listed
In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...
memorial.
In terms of art, two years before Marsden's death, a one Mr. Linsley wrote a eulogium for the mayor. Additionally, following his death, a public subscription raised to erect a statue of him on the junction of Merrion Street and Woodhouse Lane, (which has now been moved to
Woodhouse Moor) by Leeds-based sculptor John Throp (1819–1889).
Leodis photographic archive: Woodhouse Moor statue Henry Rowland Marsden
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References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Marsden, Henry Rowland
1823 births
1876 deaths
English philanthropists
People from Holbeck
Mayors of Leeds
19th-century British philanthropists