J. Batty Langley

J. Batty Langley
Member of Parliament for Sheffield Attercliffe
In office 1894–1909
Preceded by	Bernard Coleridge
Succeeded by	Joseph Pointer
President of the General Union of Railway Clerks
In office 1897–1898
Preceded by	New position
Succeeded by	W. D. Leaver
Personal details
Born	20 March 1834
Died	February 1914 (aged 79–80)
Political party	Liberal Party

Grave of Batty Langley, in Sheffield General Cemetery.

J. Batty Langley (20 March 1834 – 19 February 1914) was a British Liberal Party politician.

Born in Uppingham, Langley became a wealthy timber merchant in Sheffield, and one of the city's most prominent non-conformists. He was elected to Sheffield Town Council, serving many years and becoming an alderman.^[1]

In 1892, Langley became Mayor of Sheffield, and saw an eventful year in office. Sheffield became a city, while Langley organised a conference in the city, aiming to settle the 1893 UK coal strike.^[1] Claiming to represent the interests of the working class, he was elected as the Member of Parliament at the Sheffield Attercliffe by-election, 1894. As an employer, he was a controversial choice, and the Independent Labour Party stood a candidate against him.^[2]

Langley became the first President of the General Union of Railway Clerks in 1897, although he resigned due to ill health the following year.^[2] He retained his Parliamentary seat until he retired in 1909.

References

1. 1 2 Michael Stenton and Stephen Lees, Who's Who of British MPs: Volume II, 1886-1918
2. 1 2 Single or Return - the official history of the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by J. Batty Langley