William Kenrick (8 June 1831 – 31 July 1919) was an English iron founder and hardware manufacturer. He was a Liberal politician who was active in local government in Birmingham and sat in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1899.
Kenrick was born at West Bromwich, Staffordshire, the son of Archibald Kenrick, JP (1798–1878), an iron founder and his wife, Anne Paget (1798–1864). He became a director of the family firm Archibald Kenrick & Sons. He also became active in local politics, being the brother in law of Joseph Chamberlain. He became a Town Councillor in 1870, Alderman in 1872 and Mayor of Birmingham from 1877 to 1878. In the 1885 general election he became MP for Birmingham North. He held the seat until he resigned in 1899 when he became a Privy Councillor.[1] In 1911 he was given Honorary Freedom of the City of Birmingham.[2]
Kenrick had educational and artistic interests. He was a Governor of King Edward's School, Birmingham and was closely connected with the Arts and Crafts movement. He was Chairman of the Museum and School of Arts Committee and was visited by William Morris in 1880.[3] In 1895 he became a director of the Birmingham Guild of Handicraft when it became a limited company.[4]
Kenrick died at The Grove, Park Lane, Harborne, Edgbaston, Warwickshire. A room of his house is in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. He is commemorated in the library of Birmingham City University.
Kenrick married Mary Chamberlain, the sister of Joseph Chamberlain, at the Unity Church in Islington on 26 August 1862.[5]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
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| New constituency see Birmingham
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Member of Parliament for Birmingham North 1885-1899 |
Succeeded by John Middlemore |