Joseph Woodhead (1824 - 21 May 1913) was an English newspaper proprietor and editor and a

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. __TOC__ Active liberal parties This is a li ...

politician. Woodhead was the youngest son of Godfrey Woodhead, a currier and leather merchant of

Holmfirth Holmfirth is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England, on the A635 and A6024 in the Holme Valley, at the confluence of the River Holme and Ribble, south of Huddersfield and west of Barnsley. It mostly consist ...

. He was educated at private schools but grew up in a home where books and reading were valued. At fifteen he was apprenticed to a woollen manufacturer working all day and studying until late at night. He was a teetotaller and spoke at temperance meeting. In 1851 with a group of like-minded local Liberals he founded the ''Huddersfield Examiner'' newspaper which was produced in a room over a shop in Kirkgate. He made it into a leading exponent of non-conformist liberalism and in 1871 it became a daily evening paper. Woodhead also established the ''Dewsbury Reporter''. In 1868, he was elected to Huddersfield Town Council and became an Alderman of

Huddersfield Huddersfield is a market town in the Kirklees district in West Yorkshire, England. It is the administrative centre and largest settlement in the Kirklees district. The town is in the foothills of the Pennines. The River Holme's confluence into ...

and was twice Mayor of Huddersfield in 1876 and 1877. Huddersfield Town Hall, known as a concert venue, was sited opposite his newspaper offices and in 1885 he was president of the Glee and Madrigal Society - now the Huddersfield Singers. He was also a J. P. At the 1885 general election Woodhead was elected as the

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 ...

(MP) for Spen Valley. He held the seat until 1892. He is said to have turned down a baronetcy as he had no wish to be known as other than Joe Woodhead. In 1898 he was awarded Freedom of the City of Huddersfield. In the 1891 Census of Huddersfield Woodhead is listed as a 66-year-old Newspaper proprietor, Justice of the Peace and Member of Parliament living at Longdenholme, West Hill, Huddersfield with his four sons. Woodhead lived at Longdenholme, Huddersfield and at Preswylfa, Conway. He died in Huddersfield at the age of 89. Woodhead married Catherine Woodhead in 1853. Their son Sir German Sims Woodhead became an eminent pathologist.Huddersfield Titled Classes
/ref> Another son Ernest Woodhead played rugby for England.

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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Woodhouse, Joseph 1824 births 1913 deaths British newspaper editors Liberal Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies UK MPs 1885–1886 UK MPs 1886–1892 People from Holmfirth Councillors in Kirklees