Max Muspratt

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Sir Max Muspratt, Bt (4 February 1872 – 20 April 1934) was a British chemist and prominent politician in the city of Liverpool, England.

He was born at Seaforth Hall, Liverpool, the son of Edmund and Frances Muspratt. The Muspratt family were originally from Dublin, but moved to Liverpool in 1823 after James Muspratt, the father of Edmund and a prominent figure in the chemical industry, decided to establish himself in the city. He leased an abandoned glassworks in Vauxhall Road, which became the Muspratt Chemical Works.

Max Muspratt followed his father into the chemical industry, working in the United Alkali Company, which was founded by his father. He became director of the company in 1901, then chairman from 1914 until it merged with three other companies to form Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) in 1926. He stayed on at ICI as director from its founding until 1934.

Interest in local politics led to Muspratt forging a political career for himself. He was a dedicated liberal and served on the Liverpool City Council from 1904 as a member of the Liberal Party. At the January 1910 general election he was returned to the the House of Commons as Member of Parliament for Liverpool Exchange, but was not re-elected December 1910 general election. During the First World War, Muspratt served as Lord Mayor of Liverpool from 1916 to 1917 and worked in the Trench Warfare Department.

He was created a baronet in 1922. He left the Liberals for the Conservative Party in 1926. Muspratt died in 1934.

[edit] References

External links last verified on 10 December, 2005.

• Liverpool City Council - Former Mayors and Lord Mayors of the City of Liverpool
• The London Gazette (pdf format), 10 November 1922, p2
• Mersey Gateway - Sir Max Muspratt
• The Open University - Sir Max Muspratt