Henry Ashworth (nonconformist)

Henry Ashworth (1794-1880) was an English cotton manufacturer, friend of Richard Cobden, and vigorous supporter of the Anti-Corn Law League.

Early life and business career

Ashworth was born at Birtwistle, near Bolton, Lancashire, on 4 September 1794, in a Quaker family. He was sent to Ackworth School run by the Society of Friends. He, in partnership with his brother Edmund, managed mills at Turton, expanding a business of their father, John Ashworth. Benevolent employers, they established schools, a library and a reading room. Ashworth was a staunch nonconformist, and refused to pay church rates. He supported the schemes of Edwin Chadwick to implement the Poor Law of 1834; but was a tough opponent of trades unions. In a dispute with Edmund, the business was split, with Henry taking the mill at New Eagley.[1][2]

Anti-Corn Law activity

He was a founder of the Anti-Corn Law League, and was one of its major supporters. He had met Richard Cobden in 1837, and became a firm friend.[1]

In 1840 he was one of a deputation that waited upon Lord Melbourne to urge the repeal of the corn laws. 'You know,' said the premier, 'that to be impracticable.' Sir Robert Peel was equally unhelpful. In answer to Ashworth's plea that the import of food should not be restricted in order to maintain rents. Sir James Graham called out, 'Why, you are a leveller!' and asked whether he was to infer that the labouring classes had some claim to the landlords' estates. Ashworth protested; in dismissing the deputation Sir James told them that if the corn laws were repealed great disasters would fall upon the country, the land would go out of cultivation, church and state could not be upheld, the national institutions would be reduced to their elements, and the houses of the leaguers would be pulled about their ears by the people they were trying to excite.[1]

In 1843, in company with John Bright and Cobden, he visited County Durham, Northumberland, Cumberland, and East Lothian, to survey agriculture—they were sometimes mentioned as the ABC of the League. At the large meeting held in Manchester 23 December 1845, Ashworth proposed that £250,000 should be raised for the purpose of the agitation. The corn laws were repealed, and the final meeting of the League was held in the Manchester Town Hall on 2 July 1846. Ashworth defended Cobden at the meeting held in Manchester after the incident in the House of Commons, when Peel charged the leader of the League with connivance at assassination. He also assisted Cobden in the negotiation of the Cobden–Chevalier Treaty.[1]

Later life

During a long life he was an advocate of peace, retrenchment, and reform; and enjoyed shooting. He made several continental tours, and in February 1880 left his house, The Oaks, Turton, to winter in Italy, as he had usually done for some years. Whilst travelling from Rome he caught a chill, and at Florence was laid up with Roman fever. After about two weeks' illness, he died at Florence, 17 May 1880.[1]

Works

His major work is Recollections of Richard Cobden and the Anti-Corn Law League (two editions, London 1876 and 1881), written with John Watts.[2] He also wrote:

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5  "Ashworth, Henry (1794-1880)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Howe, A. C. "Ashworth, Henry". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/795. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Stephen, Leslie, ed. (1885). "Ashworth, Henry (1794-1880)". Dictionary of National Biography 2. London: Smith, Elder & Co.