Humphrey Chetham

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Portrait of Humphrey Chetham, now in the library reading room

Sir Humphrey Chetham (1580 – 1653) was an English merchant, responsible for the creation of Chetham's Hospital and Chetham's Library, the oldest public library in the English-speaking world.^[1]

1 Life
2 Notes
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Life

Chetham was born in Crumpsall, the fifth son of a successful Manchester merchant who lived in Crumpsall Hall, Harpurhey. Along with his brothers, he was educated at Manchester Grammar School, under the headmaster Doctor Thomas Cogan. He took an apprenticeship with his local liner draper, then with his brother George set up his own business. The two of them bought fabric goods at wholesale markets in London, and sold them back in Manchester at retail cloth outlets, thus making profit. George ended up on the London end of the business, and Humphrey was on the Manchester end. They soon became very rich, and they became the owners of several houses, including Clayton Hall and Turton Tower. In 1631, he was asked to be knighted after his huge wealth became known to the crown, but he refused it, and so was fined.^[2] He later became the high sheriff of Lancashire, but could not refuse this job, and in 1643 he was forced into the position of General Treasurer of Lancashire, which he found very demanding. He also began to obtain debts, and he feared that on his death parliament would take his money. He therefore donated money to form a blue coat school for forty poor boys, which later became Chetham's Hospital and then Chetham's School of Music. He also left money to form the Chetham's Library, which included money to pay for the books. More libraries were constructed later on from this money. After Chetham's death in 1653, the school and library opened. His contribution is commemorated by a statue and a window in Manchester Cathedral and by a statue and mural in Manchester Town Hall.