Thomas Butterworth Bayley (1744–1802) was an English

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 ...

, agriculturist and

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 ...

Background

He was from an old Lancashire family, and his mother was one of the Dukinfields of Dukinfield,

Cheshire Cheshire ( ) is a ceremonial and historic county in North West England, bordered by Wales to the west, Merseyside and Greater Manchester to the north, Derbyshire to the east, and Staffordshire and Shropshire to the south. Cheshire's county t ...

. Shortly after completing his education at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

, he was chosen a

justice of the peace A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or ''puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the sa ...

for the county palatine of Lancaster. The reputation he acquired by led to his being appointed a few years afterwards perpetual chairman of the quarter sessions. He was appointed

High Sheriff of Lancashire The High Sheriff of Lancashire is an ancient officer, now largely ceremonial, granted to Lancashire, a county in North West England. High Shrievalties are the oldest secular titles under the Crown, in England and Wales. The High Sheriff of Lanca ...

for 1768.

Magistracy

Principally by his efforts, an improved gaol and penitentiary-house for

Manchester Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...

was erected in 1787. In his honour, it was named the New Bayley. The building was pulled down in 1873. After improvements introduced in its construction, and in that of the county gaol at Lancaster, Bayley was consulted in regard to the erection and improvement of prisons throughout the country.

Health Conditions

Bayley also took an active interest in sanitary reform, and in schemes for improving the condition of the poor. In 1796 he was successful in obtaining in

the establishment of a board of health, of which he was chosen chairman. He was one of the founders of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester, and of a college of arts and sciences, which was later abandoned. Much of his spare time he devoted to agriculture, and on his farm of Hope near Manchester introduced various new agricultural methods, including an improved system of sod draining. He wrote a pamphlet entitled ''On a Cheap and Expeditious Method of Draining Land'', which was published in Alexander Hunter's ''Georgical Essays'', vol. iv. (1772), and vol. i. (1803). He was also the author of ''Observations on the General Highway and Turnpike Acts'', 1773. Bayley was elected

Fellow of the Royal Society Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS, ForMemRS and HonFRS) is an award granted by the judges of the Royal Society of London to individuals who have made a "substantial contribution to the improvement of natural science, natural knowledge, incl ...

in 1773. He died at

Buxton Buxton is a spa town in the Borough of High Peak, Derbyshire, England. It is England's highest market town, sited at some above sea level.

Derbyshire Derbyshire ( ) is a ceremonial county in the East Midlands, England. It includes much of the Peak District National Park, the southern end of the Pennine range of hills and part of the National Forest. It borders Greater Manchester to the nor ...

, on 24 June 1802.

Notes

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Bayley, Thomas Butterworth 1744 births 1802 deaths Agricultural writers Fellows of the Royal Society High Sheriffs of Lancashire Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society