Edward Baines
Encyclopedia
Edward Baines English newspaper-proprietor and politician, was born in 1774 at Walton-le-Dale
, near Preston, Lancashire. He was educated at the grammar schools of Hawkshead
and Preston, and at the age of sixteen was apprenticed to a printer in Preston. After remaining there for four years and a half, he moved to Leeds
, finished his apprenticeship, and at once started his own business. He took a keen interest in political and social movements. His political opinions led him to sympathize with non-conformity and he soon joined the Independents.
In 1801 the assistance of party friends enabled him to buy the Leeds Mercury
. Provincial newspapers at that time did not possess much influence; it was no part of the editor's duty to supply what are now called "leading articles", and the system of reporting was described as "defective" by the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica. Baines made a complete change in the Mercury. His political articles gradually made the paper the organ of Liberal opinion in Leeds, and the connection of the Baines family with the paper made their influence powerful for many years in this direction. Baines soon began to take a prominent part in politics; he was an ardent advocate of parliamentary reform, and it was mainly by his influence that Thomas Macaulay was returned for Leeds
in 1832; and in 1834 he succeeded Macaulay as member. He was re-elected in 1835 and 1837, but resigned in 1841.
In parliament he supported the Liberal party, but with independent views. Like his son Edward after him, he strongly advocated the separation of church and state, and opposed government interference in national education. His letters to Lord John Russell
on the latter question (1846) had a powerful influence in determining the action of the government. He died in 1848. His best-known writings are: The History, Directory and Gazetteer of the County of York; History, Directory and Gazetteer of the County of Lancaster; History of the County Palatine and Duchy of Lancaster. He was also the author of a History of the Wars of Napoleon, which was continued under the title of A History of the Reign of George III. Some of these were co-written with Thomas Baines
.
His Life (1861) has been written by his son, Sir Edward Baines (1800–1890), of St Ann's Hill, Leeds, who was editor and afterwards proprietor of the Leeds Mercury, M.P. for Leeds
(1859–1874), and was knighted in 1880; his History of the Cotton Manufacture (1835) was long a standard authority. An elder son, Matthew Talbot Baines
(1799–1860), went to the bar; he became recorder of Hull
in (1837), M.P. for Hull in 1847, president of the Poor Law Board in 1849, was returned as M.P. for Leeds 1852, again became president of the Poor Law Board (till 1855), and entered the cabinet as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
in 1856. The youngest daughter of Edward Baines - Margaret (d.1891) - married another political figure, Charles Reed, in 1844.
Walton-le-Dale
Walton-le-Dale is a village in the Borough of South Ribble, in Lancashire, England. It lies on south bank of the River Ribble, and the south-side of the city of Preston, adjacent to Bamber Bridge.-Toponymy:...
, near Preston, Lancashire. He was educated at the grammar schools of Hawkshead
Hawkshead Grammar School
Hawkshead Grammar School in Hawkshead, Cumbria, England was founded in 1585 by Archbishop Edwin Sandys, of York, who petitioned a charter from Queen Elizabeth I to set up a governing body. The early School taught Latin, Greek and sciences, including arithmetic and geometry...
and Preston, and at the age of sixteen was apprenticed to a printer in Preston. After remaining there for four years and a half, he moved to Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, finished his apprenticeship, and at once started his own business. He took a keen interest in political and social movements. His political opinions led him to sympathize with non-conformity and he soon joined the Independents.
In 1801 the assistance of party friends enabled him to buy the Leeds Mercury
Leeds Mercury
The Leeds Mercury was a newspaper in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It was published from 1718 to 1755 and again from 1767. Initially it consisted of 12 pages and cost three halfpennies. In 1794 it had a circulation of about 3,000 copies, and in 1797 the cost rose to sixpence because of increased...
. Provincial newspapers at that time did not possess much influence; it was no part of the editor's duty to supply what are now called "leading articles", and the system of reporting was described as "defective" by the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica. Baines made a complete change in the Mercury. His political articles gradually made the paper the organ of Liberal opinion in Leeds, and the connection of the Baines family with the paper made their influence powerful for many years in this direction. Baines soon began to take a prominent part in politics; he was an ardent advocate of parliamentary reform, and it was mainly by his influence that Thomas Macaulay was returned for Leeds
Leeds (UK Parliament constituency)
Leeds was a parliamentary borough covering the town of Leeds, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England. It was represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 to 1885....
in 1832; and in 1834 he succeeded Macaulay as member. He was re-elected in 1835 and 1837, but resigned in 1841.
In parliament he supported the Liberal party, but with independent views. Like his son Edward after him, he strongly advocated the separation of church and state, and opposed government interference in national education. His letters to Lord John Russell
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell, KG, GCMG, PC , known as Lord John Russell before 1861, was an English Whig and Liberal politician who served twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century....
on the latter question (1846) had a powerful influence in determining the action of the government. He died in 1848. His best-known writings are: The History, Directory and Gazetteer of the County of York; History, Directory and Gazetteer of the County of Lancaster; History of the County Palatine and Duchy of Lancaster. He was also the author of a History of the Wars of Napoleon, which was continued under the title of A History of the Reign of George III. Some of these were co-written with Thomas Baines
Thomas Baines
Thomas Baines was an English artist and explorer of British colonial southern Africa and Australia. Born in King's Lynn, Norfolk, Baines was apprenticed to a coach painter at an early age...
.
His Life (1861) has been written by his son, Sir Edward Baines (1800–1890), of St Ann's Hill, Leeds, who was editor and afterwards proprietor of the Leeds Mercury, M.P. for Leeds
Leeds (UK Parliament constituency)
Leeds was a parliamentary borough covering the town of Leeds, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England. It was represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 to 1885....
(1859–1874), and was knighted in 1880; his History of the Cotton Manufacture (1835) was long a standard authority. An elder son, Matthew Talbot Baines
Matthew Talbot Baines
Matthew Talbot Baines QC, DL was a British lawyer and Liberal politician. He most notably served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in Lord Palmerston's 1855 to 1858 administration.-Background and education:...
(1799–1860), went to the bar; he became recorder of Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
in (1837), M.P. for Hull in 1847, president of the Poor Law Board in 1849, was returned as M.P. for Leeds 1852, again became president of the Poor Law Board (till 1855), and entered the cabinet as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is, in modern times, a ministerial office in the government of the United Kingdom that includes as part of its duties, the administration of the estates and rents of the Duchy of Lancaster...
in 1856. The youngest daughter of Edward Baines - Margaret (d.1891) - married another political figure, Charles Reed, in 1844.
Publications
- Baines, Edward (1823) History, directory & gazetteer of the county of York; with a variety of commercial, statistical and professional information: also a copious list of the seats of the nobility and gentry, of Yorkshire. In two volumes. Vol. I. - West Riding. Vol. II. - East and North Ridings. Illustrated by maps, plans, &c.. Leeds: Mercury Office.