Theophilus Peel

Sir Theophilus Peel, 1st Baronet (6 September 1837 – 20 May 1911)[1][2] was an English textile industrialist from Bradford and magistrate. He was created a baronet on 2 September 1897, as part of the 1897 Diamond Jubilee Honours.[2]

Background

He was the third son of William Peel JP (1811–1890), a Bradford merchant, and his wife Lucy Woodhead, daughter of Joseph Woodhead; the eldest son George Frederick (1834–1899) was later his business partner. His father bought Ackworth Park.[3][4]

William Peel, from Shelf, founded the textile businesses Patterson, Peel & Co. and Wm. Peel & Co. in Bradford, and exported to the United States.[5]

Peel Brothers

Peel Brothers had mills at Thornton[6] and Globe Mills in Bradford, with offices and warehouse at Peel Place. Theophilus Peel and his brother George became directors of the firm in 1866, which from then traded as Peel Brothers; it had been founded in 1845 by Simeon Townend.[7] By 1892 the company employed around 1,000 workers.[8]

Simeon Townend

The Old Mill at Thornton was founded in 1826 by David Wright; steam power looms were introduced there by Simeon Townend.[9]

The mill at Thornton of S. Townend is in the catalogue of the Great Exhibition 1851 with

Worsted, heald and genappe yarns, spun from English wools[...][10]

As the Crimean war trade depression affected textiles, the failure of the firm was announced in 1854.[11] Shortly afterwards it was described as a "stoppage": in which the creditors were said to have shown "a disposition to make an arrangement, to avoid bankruptcy."[12]

Simeon Townend died aged 56 in March 1860, called a stuff or worsted manufacturer in newspaper reports.[13][14]

Restructuring

The advent of the Peel brothers followed an attempt in 1865 to raise capital for a new worsted mill at Thornton;[15] and a creditors' assignment at the end of that year for George Townend, stuff manufacturer, son of Simeon.[16]

George Townend initially sat on the Peel Brothers board.[7] By 1893 Theophilus Peel was sole proprietor of the company.[17]

Political candidate

In politics Peel was a supporter of William Edward Forster.[8] He stood in Shipley in 1892 as a Liberal Unionist candidate, losing to William Pollard Byles in a close contest.[18]

Family

Peel married in 1890 Isabella Maria Barnes. Known as Ella, Lady Peel, she was the daughter of Capt. Edward Barnes of the 27th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Foot, and granddaughter of Edward Barnes. She survived her husband, dying at Torquay in 1935.[1][19] There were no children of the marriage, and the title became extinct in 1911.[20][21]

Residences

An 1866 directory gave Peel's address as Ackworth Park.[22]

In 1891 Peel's was address Birk Lea, Harrogate, the final address of his father who died the previous year leaving £150,000;[5][23][24] the following year it was Ashdown, Apperley Bridge.[25] The seat of the baronetcy, Tyersal Hall, is in Pudsey. In 1900 Peel's residence was given as Potterton Hall.[26] At the end of his life he lived at Park Gate, Guiseley.[27]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Burke, Bernard (1899). A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage. Harrison and Sons. p. 1150.
  2. 1 2 A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage and Baronetage, the Privy Council, Knightage, and Companionage. 1934. p. 1834.
  3. ↑ Burke, Bernard (1903). Ashworth P. Burke (ed.). A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage, the Privy Council, Knightage and Companionage (65th ed.). London: Harrison and Sons. p. 1195.
  4. ↑ Walford, Edward (1860). The County Fmilies of the United Kingdom. London: R. Hardwicke. pp. 786–787.
  5. 1 2 The Textile Mercury. 1890. p. 150.
  6. ↑ The Post-office Bradford directory. 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th ed. 1893. p. 60.
  7. 1 2 Jevons, William Stanley (24 November 1977). Papers and Correspondence of William Stanley Jevons: Volume V Correspondence, 1879–1882. Springer. p. 172 note 1. ISBN 978-1-349-03094-1.
  8. 1 2 "About Mr. Theo. Peel". Bradford Daily Argus. 23 June 1892. p. 2.
  9. ↑ Bradford Antiquary: the journal of the Bradford Historical and Antiquarian Society. Bradford (England): The Society. 1888. p. 16.
  10. ↑ Official Catalogue of the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, 1851. Spicer brothers. 1851. p. 78.
  11. ↑ Bankers' Magazine, Journal of the Money Market and Commercial Digest. Bankers' Magazine Limited. 1854. p. 480.
  12. ↑ "The Philosophy of Trade Reports: or the True Test of our Prosperity". Bankers' Circular. 22 July 1854. p. 9.
  13. ↑ "Deaths". Leeds Times. 24 March 1860. p. 8.
  14. ↑ "Deaths". Leeds Mercury. 17 March 1860. p. 8.
  15. ↑ "Thornton". Bradford Observer. 22 June 1865. p. 5.
  16. ↑ "No. 23048". The London Gazette. 12 December 1865. p. 6633.
  17. ↑ Progress, Commerce, 1893. London Printing & Engraving Company. 1893. p. 92.
  18. ↑ House of Commons: With Full Results of the Polling and Biographies of Members and Unsuccessful Candidates and a Complete Analysis, Statistical Tables, and a Map of the General Election. Times Office. 1892. p. 93.
  19. ↑ "Death of Ella Lady Peel". Leeds Mercury. 18 February 1935. p. 8.
  20. ↑ Ormrod, W. M. (2000). The Lord Lieutenants and High Sheriffs of Yorkshire, 1066-2000. Wharncliffe Books. p. 197. ISBN 978-1-871647-74-7.
  21. ↑ Debrett's Illustrated Peerage and Baronetage, Titles of Courtesy and the Knightage. Kelly's Directories. 1925. p. 585.
  22. ↑ Directory of Bradford, Halifax, Wakefield, ... 1866. p. 807.
  23. ↑ Kelly's Handbook to the Titled, Landed & Official Classes. Kelly and Company. 1891. p. 900.
  24. ↑ Textile Manufacturer. 1891. p. P34.
  25. ↑ Kelly's Handbook to the Titled, Landed & Official Classes. Kelly & Co. 1892. p. 908.
  26. ↑ Debrett's illustrated baronetage and knightage (and companionage) of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. 1900. p. 462.
  27. ↑ "Lady Peel Dead". Shipley Times and Express. 23 February 1935. p. 12.
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