John Brotherton (20 September 1829 – 1917) was a tube manufacturer who served as Mayor of

Wolverhampton Wolverhampton () is a city, metropolitan borough and administrative centre in the West Midlands, England. The population size has increased by 5.7%, from around 249,500 in 2011 to 263,700 in 2021. People from the city are called "Wulfrunian ...

1883/84.

Early years

Brotherton was born in 1829, a son of Richard Brotherton and Mary. He was raised in a large family by his widowed mother and was apprenticed to his uncle,

Cornelius Whitehouse Cornelius Whitehouse (22 July 1795 – 7 August 1883) was an English engineer, businessman and inventor of a method of manufacturing tubes cheaply and accurately. Life Whitehouse was born in Oldbury (now in West Midlands), son of Edward Whitehous ...

, an innovator in new ways of tube manufacture. He worked in Wednesbury and Monmore Green and acquired the knowledge to leave and set up his own business aged 32.

Imperial Tube Works

John Brotherton Ltd. was founded in Wolverhampton in 1861. Advertising of the time shows that they produced a range of tubes and fittings for hot water, boilers, water or oil wells, railway signalling and points rods, refrigeration, ovens and valves. The company expanded rapidly acquiring additional premises along the canal and adjacent to the new railway. It grew to become one of the largest tube manufacturers in South Staffordship, with a worldwide reputation for high quality products.

Politics

Brotherton was elected to Wolverhampton Borough Council in 1873. He represented St George's Ward and was a member of the Waterworks Committee, promoting improvements to the town supply. He served as Mayor of Wolverhampton from 1883/84.

References

1829 births 1917 deaths Mayors of Wolverhampton People from Wolverhampton People from Wednesbury 19th-century English businesspeople {{England-business-bio-stub