Joseph Livesey
Encyclopedia
Joseph William Livesey was an English temperance campaigner
, social reformer, local politician, writer, publisher, newspaper proprietor and philanthropist
.
near Preston, Lancashire, the son of John Livesey, a cloth manufacturer, and Jennett (née Ainsley). His father had a warehouse and warping mill in the village and contracted work out to local weavers
. However, both Joseph's parents died of tuberculosis
when he was 7, and his grandfather, also Joseph Livesey, and uncle, Thomas Livesey, stepped in to run the business and look after the boy; they were not successful and the business had to be wound up after 3–4 years.
The family became weavers instead, practising their trade in a damp cellar, prone to flooding due to the nearby River Ribble
. Shortly afterwards, his grandfather died and young Joseph had to take on the domestic duties as well. The hardships of his early life continued until after his marriage in 1815 to Jane Williams, when he moved to Preston and abandoned the trade of weaving for the business of cheese
selling. He successfully continued this trade in Preston until his death.
, in which he attempted to provide cheap and elevated reading. It became the Preston Temperance Advocate in January 1834, a monthly priced at 1 penny. This was the first temperance publication produced in England. Lindsey ran it for 4 years, then transferred it to the British Temperance Association, where it became the British Temperance Advocate.
In January 1838, the Moral Reformer was revived and continued until February 1839. In 1841 Livesey engaged in agitation against the Corn Laws
. From December 1841 until the repeal of the laws, he issued The Struggle, weekly, price a halfpenny. Its 235 editions, reaching up to 15,000 readers a week, proved valuable to the repealers.
In 1844 he established (with the help of his sons) the weekly Preston Guardian, which became the leading North Lancashire paper until 1859 when it was sold off. From August 1851 to May 1852 he issued the Teetotal Progressionist, and in 1867, commenced a penny monthly called the Staunch Teetotaller which ran for two years. In 1881, Livesey issued his memoirs under the title The autobiography of Joseph Livesey (Preston 1881; 2nd edition, London 1885). He also authored numerous tracts and lectures.
from his mother, which was aggravated by having to work in a damp cellar in his early years; He also suffered from rheumatic fever
throughout his life, which interrupted his literary work on several occasions. He maintained that doctors did not help him at all in his affliction, but credited hydropathic treatment
with bringing him much-needed relief – even investing in the "hydro" at Bowness-on-Windermere
. He was also an enthusiast for vegetarianism
from 1867 after spending a year without meat.
Livesey died, at the age of 90, on 2 September 1884, leaving a large family. His wife, Jane had died before him in June 1869. In his will he left a provision that every household in Preston should receive a free copy of his Malt Liquor Lecture, in which he maintained that "there is more food in a pennyworth of bread than in a gallon of ale"; each of the 20,000 copies distributed was inscribed with the words, "he being dead yet speaketh".
A speech given by Livesey at the Oak Street Chapel in Manchester
inspired John Cassell
(founder of Cassell & Co.) to become a travelling temperance campaigner, and to "never let go the desire to be somebody and to do something from that moment".
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
, social reformer, local politician, writer, publisher, newspaper proprietor and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
.
Early life
Livesey was born on 5 March 1794 at Walton-le-DaleWalton-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, the son of John Livesey, a cloth manufacturer, and Jennett (née Ainsley). His father had a warehouse and warping mill in the village and contracted work out to local weavers
Weaving
Weaving is a method of fabric production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth. The other methods are knitting, lace making and felting. The longitudinal threads are called the warp and the lateral threads are the weft or filling...
. However, both Joseph's parents died of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
when he was 7, and his grandfather, also Joseph Livesey, and uncle, Thomas Livesey, stepped in to run the business and look after the boy; they were not successful and the business had to be wound up after 3–4 years.
The family became weavers instead, practising their trade in a damp cellar, prone to flooding due to the nearby River Ribble
River Ribble
The River Ribble is a river that runs through North Yorkshire and Lancashire, in northern England. The river's drainage basin also includes parts of Greater Manchester around Wigan.-Geography:...
. Shortly afterwards, his grandfather died and young Joseph had to take on the domestic duties as well. The hardships of his early life continued until after his marriage in 1815 to Jane Williams, when he moved to Preston and abandoned the trade of weaving for the business of cheese
Cheese
Cheese is a generic term for a diverse group of milk-based food products. Cheese is produced throughout the world in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms....
selling. He successfully continued this trade in Preston until his death.
Business career and social activism
Livesey engaged energetically in local politics, filled many public posts, and was a leader in every kind of philanthropic effort, especially identifying with the teetotal movement. From January 1831 to December 1883, he published The Moral Reformer, a monthly magazine, priced at 6 penniesPenny (British pre-decimal coin)
The penny of the Kingdom of Great Britain and later of the United Kingdom, was in circulation from the early 18th century until February 1971, Decimal Day....
, in which he attempted to provide cheap and elevated reading. It became the Preston Temperance Advocate in January 1834, a monthly priced at 1 penny. This was the first temperance publication produced in England. Lindsey ran it for 4 years, then transferred it to the British Temperance Association, where it became the British Temperance Advocate.
In January 1838, the Moral Reformer was revived and continued until February 1839. In 1841 Livesey engaged in agitation against the Corn Laws
Corn Laws
The Corn Laws were trade barriers designed to protect cereal producers in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland against competition from less expensive foreign imports between 1815 and 1846. The barriers were introduced by the Importation Act 1815 and repealed by the Importation Act 1846...
. From December 1841 until the repeal of the laws, he issued The Struggle, weekly, price a halfpenny. Its 235 editions, reaching up to 15,000 readers a week, proved valuable to the repealers.
In 1844 he established (with the help of his sons) the weekly Preston Guardian, which became the leading North Lancashire paper until 1859 when it was sold off. From August 1851 to May 1852 he issued the Teetotal Progressionist, and in 1867, commenced a penny monthly called the Staunch Teetotaller which ran for two years. In 1881, Livesey issued his memoirs under the title The autobiography of Joseph Livesey (Preston 1881; 2nd edition, London 1885). He also authored numerous tracts and lectures.
Later years
Livesey had inherited a tendency to rheumatismRheumatism
Rheumatism or rheumatic disorder is a non-specific term for medical problems affecting the joints and connective tissue. The study of, and therapeutic interventions in, such disorders is called rheumatology.-Terminology:...
from his mother, which was aggravated by having to work in a damp cellar in his early years; He also suffered from rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that occurs following a Streptococcus pyogenes infection, such as strep throat or scarlet fever. Believed to be caused by antibody cross-reactivity that can involve the heart, joints, skin, and brain, the illness typically develops two to three weeks after...
throughout his life, which interrupted his literary work on several occasions. He maintained that doctors did not help him at all in his affliction, but credited hydropathic treatment
Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy, formerly called hydropathy, involves the use of water for pain-relief and treating illness. The term hydrotherapy itself is synonymous with the term water cure as it was originally marketed by practitioners and promoters in the 19th century...
with bringing him much-needed relief – even investing in the "hydro" at Bowness-on-Windermere
Bowness-on-Windermere
Bowness-on-Windermere is a town in South Lakeland, Cumbria, England. Due its position on the banks of Windermere the town has become a tourist honeypot. Although their mutual growth has caused them to become one large settlement, the town is distinct from the town of Windermere as the two still...
. He was also an enthusiast for vegetarianism
Vegetarianism
Vegetarianism encompasses the practice of following plant-based diets , with or without the inclusion of dairy products or eggs, and with the exclusion of meat...
from 1867 after spending a year without meat.
Livesey died, at the age of 90, on 2 September 1884, leaving a large family. His wife, Jane had died before him in June 1869. In his will he left a provision that every household in Preston should receive a free copy of his Malt Liquor Lecture, in which he maintained that "there is more food in a pennyworth of bread than in a gallon of ale"; each of the 20,000 copies distributed was inscribed with the words, "he being dead yet speaketh".
A speech given by Livesey at the Oak Street Chapel in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
inspired John Cassell
John Cassell
John Cassell was an English publisher, printer, writer and editor, who founded the firm Cassell & Co, famous for its educational books and periodicals, and which pioneered the serial publication of novels. He was also a well-known tea and coffee merchant and a general business entrepreneur...
(founder of Cassell & Co.) to become a travelling temperance campaigner, and to "never let go the desire to be somebody and to do something from that moment".
External links
- Joseph Livesey of Preston (Livesey Historical Society)
- National Temperance Leaugue archive (University of Central LancashireUniversity of Central LancashireThe University of Central Lancashire is a university based in Preston, Lancashire, England.The university has its roots in The Institution For The Diffusion Of Useful Knowledge which was founded in 1828. In 1992 it was granted University status by the Privy Council...
)