George Cadbury
Encyclopedia
George Cadbury was the third son of John Cadbury
, a Quaker who founded Cadbury's cocoa and chocolate company.
he took over the family business in 1861. In 1878 they acquired 14 acres (57,000 m²) of land in open country, four miles (6 km) south of Birmingham
, where they opened a new factory in 1879. He rented 'Woodbrooke' a Georgian style mansion built by Josiah Mason
, which he eventually bought in 1881. In the early 20th century, he and John Wilhelm Rowntree
established a Quaker study centre in the building, and it remains the only such centre in Europe today, offering short educational courses on spiritual and social matters to Quakers and others.
The Cadbury brothers were concerned with the quality of life of their employees and provided an alternative to grimy city life. As more land was acquired and the brothers moved the factory to a new country location, they decided to build a factory town (designed by architect William Alexander Harvey
), which was not exclusive to the employees of the factory. This village became known as Bournville
after the nearby river and French word for "town". The houses were never privately owned, and their value stayed low and affordable. Bournville was a marked change from the poor living conditions of the urban environment. Here, families had houses with yards, gardens, and fresh air. To the present, the town offers affordable housing.
The brothers cared for their employees; they both believed in the social rights of the workers and hence they installed canteens and sport grounds. Nineteen years after brother Richard died, George opened a works committee for each gender which discussed proposals for improving the firm. He also pressed ahead with other ideas, like an annuity, a deposit account and education facilities for every employee.
In 1901, disgusted by the imperialistic policy of the Balfour
government and opposed to the Boer War
, Cadbury bought the Daily News and used the paper to campaign for old age pensions and against the war and sweatshop
labour.
George Cadbury was one of the prime movers in setting up The Birmingham Civic Society
in 1918. Cadbury donated the Lickey Hills Country Park
to the people of Birmingham.
He also donated a large house in Northfield to the Birmingham Cripples Union that was used as a hospital from 1909. It is now called the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital
.
He died at his home, Northfield Manor House
, on 24 October 1922, aged 83.
.
In 1888 he married Elizabeth Mary Taylor
. They had six children together: Laurence John, George Norman, Elsie Dorothea, Egbert
, Marion Janet
and Ursula.
John Cadbury
John Cadbury was proprietor of a small chocolate business in Birmingham, England, that later became part of Cadbury plc, one of the world's largest chocolate producers.-Biography:...
, a Quaker who founded Cadbury's cocoa and chocolate company.
Background
He worked at the school for adults on Sundays for no pay, despite only going to school himself until he was sixteen. Together with his brother RichardRichard Cadbury
Richard Cadbury was the second son of the Quaker John Cadbury, founder of Cadbury's cocoa and chocolate company....
he took over the family business in 1861. In 1878 they acquired 14 acres (57,000 m²) of land in open country, four miles (6 km) south of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, where they opened a new factory in 1879. He rented 'Woodbrooke' a Georgian style mansion built by Josiah Mason
Josiah Mason
Sir Josiah Mason was an English pen-manufacturer.Mason was born in Mill Street, Kidderminster, the son of a carpet-weaver. He began life as a street hawker of cakes, fruits and vegetables. After trying his hand in his native town at shoemaking, baking, carpentering, blacksmithing, house-painting...
, which he eventually bought in 1881. In the early 20th century, he and John Wilhelm Rowntree
John Wilhelm Rowntree
John Wilhelm Rowntree was a chocolate and confectionery manufacturer and Quaker religious activist and reformer....
established a Quaker study centre in the building, and it remains the only such centre in Europe today, offering short educational courses on spiritual and social matters to Quakers and others.
The Cadbury brothers were concerned with the quality of life of their employees and provided an alternative to grimy city life. As more land was acquired and the brothers moved the factory to a new country location, they decided to build a factory town (designed by architect William Alexander Harvey
William Alexander Harvey
William Alexander Harvey was an English architect. He is most notable for his design of Bournville, the model 'garden suburb' built by Cadburys to house their chocolate-making workforce to the south of Birmingham....
), which was not exclusive to the employees of the factory. This village became known as Bournville
Bournville
Bournville is a model village on the south side of Birmingham, England, best known for its connections with the Cadbury family and chocolate – including a dark chocolate bar branded "Bournville". It is also a ward within the council constituency of Selly Oak and home to the Bournville Centre...
after the nearby river and French word for "town". The houses were never privately owned, and their value stayed low and affordable. Bournville was a marked change from the poor living conditions of the urban environment. Here, families had houses with yards, gardens, and fresh air. To the present, the town offers affordable housing.
The brothers cared for their employees; they both believed in the social rights of the workers and hence they installed canteens and sport grounds. Nineteen years after brother Richard died, George opened a works committee for each gender which discussed proposals for improving the firm. He also pressed ahead with other ideas, like an annuity, a deposit account and education facilities for every employee.
In 1901, disgusted by the imperialistic policy of the Balfour
Arthur Balfour
Arthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour, KG, OM, PC, DL was a British Conservative politician and statesman...
government and opposed to the Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
, Cadbury bought the Daily News and used the paper to campaign for old age pensions and against the war and sweatshop
Sweatshop
Sweatshop is a negatively connoted term for any working environment considered to be unacceptably difficult or dangerous. Sweatshop workers often work long hours for very low pay, regardless of laws mandating overtime pay or a minimum wage. Child labour laws may be violated. Sweatshops may have...
labour.
George Cadbury was one of the prime movers in setting up The Birmingham Civic Society
The Birmingham Civic Society
The Birmingham Civic Society was founded at an inaugural meeting on 10 June 1918 in The Council House, Birmingham, England and is registered with The Civic Trust. The first President of the Society, the Earl of Plymouth, addressed the assembled Aldermen, Councillors, Architects and other city...
in 1918. Cadbury donated the Lickey Hills Country Park
Lickey Hills Country Park
Lickey Hills Country Park is a country park in England. It is 10.3 miles south west of Birmingham and 24 miles north east of Worcester. The 524 acre park is situated just south of Rednal and close to Barnt Green. It is half a mile east of Cofton Hackett...
to the people of Birmingham.
He also donated a large house in Northfield to the Birmingham Cripples Union that was used as a hospital from 1909. It is now called the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital
Royal Orthopaedic Hospital
The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital is an National Health Service hospital situated in Northfield, Birmingham, West Midlands, England. It specialises in bone and joint problems.-History:...
.
He died at his home, Northfield Manor House
Northfield Manor House
Northfield Manor House is a Manor House, in Northfield, Birmingham, England. It was once home to George and Elizabeth Cadbury. More recently, it has been used by the University of Birmingham, to whom the Cadburys donated it and to whom it still belongs....
, on 24 October 1922, aged 83.
Family life
George Cadbury married twice. In 1872 he married Mary Tylor: she died in 1887. She was the mother of George junior, Mary Isabel and EdwardEdward Cadbury
Edward Cadbury was a British industrialist and philanthropist.He was the eldest son of George Cadbury and his first wife Mary . He joined the family business of Cadbury Brothers in 1893, becoming a managing director in 1899 and chairman in 1937, retiring in 1943. He was chairman of the Daily...
.
In 1888 he married Elizabeth Mary Taylor
Elizabeth Cadbury
Dame Elizabeth Mary Cadbury, DBE , was an English philanthropist and wife of George Cadbury, the chocolate manufacturer.-Early life:...
. They had six children together: Laurence John, George Norman, Elsie Dorothea, Egbert
Egbert Cadbury
Air Commodore Sir Egbert Cadbury DSC, DFC was a First World War pilot who shot down two Zeppelins over the North Sea: L21 on 28 November 1916, and L70 on 6 August 1918: the latter while flying a De Havilland DH.4 with Robert Leckie as Observer/Gunner.The son of George Cadbury and Dame Elizabeth...
, Marion Janet
Marion Greeves
Marion Janet Cadbury Greeves, MBE was the first one of only two female members of the Senate of Northern Ireland, having been elected to serve as an independent member on 20 June 1950, retiring on 10 June 1969....
and Ursula.