William Clegg
Encyclopedia
Sir William Edwin Clegg (21 April 1852 - 22 August 1932) was an English footballer and politician.
with whom he played at Sheffield Wednesday
. The two were the first brothers to both be capped for England, although they never played in the same match. He was described as being "a safe kick and good half-back" in Charles Alcock
's 1875 edition of the Football Annual.
After retiring from football through injury, he continued within the game as an administrator and became president of Sheffield Wednesday and vice president of Sheffield and Hallamshire Football Association
.
Clegg became a solicitor with his most notable case when he defended the notorious criminal Charles Peace
.
in 1898. He became known as 'the uncrowned king of Sheffield'. Clegg was knighted in 1906.
Clegg was the leader of the Liberal
group on Sheffield City Council
from 1895. In his early years, he campaigned for the municipalisation of the tram
ways in the city, and then for the construction of council housing in the city. He was able to ensure that an estate was built at Wincobank, and a project to build 400 houses was begun in 1909. He also acted as the major financier of the local Liberal group.
Clegg was considered to be on the right of the Liberal Party and was associated with the Liberal League. He was opposed to socialism
and was hostile to the Labour Party
. From 1909, he began co-operating closely with the Conservative Party
group on the council, and in 1920 the two parties formed the Citizens' Association, Clegg being its first leader. He pursued low-tax policies at the expense of cutting services and running up debts. He was an opponent of David Lloyd George
's policies. The Association lost control of the council to Labour in 1926, who removed him from the alderman
ic bench.
Following his deposition from the Council Clegg concentrated on social and philanthropic work and in particular he took an interest in education. He became the pro-chancellor of Sheffield University and chairman of the sheffield education committee.
Clegg had married twice and had a son and daughter. Clegg died in a Sheffield nursing home 22 August 1932 aged 80.
Football career
Born in Sheffield, he was the younger brother of Charles CleggCharles Clegg (footballer)
Sir John Charles Clegg , better known as Charles Clegg, was an English footballer and later both chairman and president of the Football Association. He was born in Sheffield and lived there his whole life. He competed in the first international match between England and Scotland in 1872...
with whom he played at Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
. The two were the first brothers to both be capped for England, although they never played in the same match. He was described as being "a safe kick and good half-back" in Charles Alcock
Charles Alcock
Charles Alcock may refer to:*Charles R. Alcock , New Zealand astronomer*C. W. Alcock, Charles William Alcock , English footballer, creator of the FA Cup and organiser of the first Test in England...
's 1875 edition of the Football Annual.
After retiring from football through injury, he continued within the game as an administrator and became president of Sheffield Wednesday and vice president of Sheffield and Hallamshire Football Association
Sheffield and Hallamshire Football Association
The Sheffield and Hallamshire Football Association was formed in Sheffield in 1867 and was the first County Football Association in England. Its teams adopted the Sheffield Rules of football up until 1878 when they were merged with the Football Association's rules...
.
Clegg became a solicitor with his most notable case when he defended the notorious criminal Charles Peace
Charles Peace
Charles Frederick Peace was a notorious English burglar and murderer from Sheffield, whose somewhat remarkable life later spawned dozens of romanticised novels and films...
.
Political career
He also went on to have a successful political career and was Lord Mayor of SheffieldLord Mayor of Sheffield
The Lord Mayor of Sheffield is a ceremonial post held by a member of Sheffield City Council. They are elected annually by the council. The post originated in 1843, with the appointment of William Jeffcock as the first Mayor of Sheffield...
in 1898. He became known as 'the uncrowned king of Sheffield'. Clegg was knighted in 1906.
Clegg was the leader of the Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
group on Sheffield City Council
Sheffield City Council
Sheffield City Council is the city council for the metropolitan borough of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It consists of 84 councillors, elected to represent 28 wards, each with three councillors...
from 1895. In his early years, he campaigned for the municipalisation of the tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
ways in the city, and then for the construction of council housing in the city. He was able to ensure that an estate was built at Wincobank, and a project to build 400 houses was begun in 1909. He also acted as the major financier of the local Liberal group.
Clegg was considered to be on the right of the Liberal Party and was associated with the Liberal League. He was opposed to socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
and was hostile to the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
. From 1909, he began co-operating closely with the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
group on the council, and in 1920 the two parties formed the Citizens' Association, Clegg being its first leader. He pursued low-tax policies at the expense of cutting services and running up debts. He was an opponent of David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
's policies. The Association lost control of the council to Labour in 1926, who removed him from the alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
ic bench.
Following his deposition from the Council Clegg concentrated on social and philanthropic work and in particular he took an interest in education. He became the pro-chancellor of Sheffield University and chairman of the sheffield education committee.
Clegg had married twice and had a son and daughter. Clegg died in a Sheffield nursing home 22 August 1932 aged 80.