William Kenrick (MP)
Encyclopedia
William Kenrick was an English iron founder and hardware manufacturer. He was a Liberal
politician who was active in local government in Birmingham
and sat in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1899.
Kenrick was born at West Bromwich
, Staffordshire
, the son of Archibald Kenrick, JP (1798–1878), an iron founder and his wife, Anne Paget (1798–1864). He became a director of the family firm Archibald Kenrick & Sons. He also became active in local politics, being the brother in law of Joseph Chamberlain
. He became a Town Councillor in 1870, Alderman in 1872 and Mayor of Birmingham from 1877 to 1878. In the 1885 general election
he became MP
for Birmingham North
. He held the seat until he resigned in 1899 when he became a Privy Councillor. In 1911 he was given Honorary Freedom of the City of Birmingham
.
Kenrick had educational and artistic interests. He was a Governor of King Edward's School, Birmingham
and was closely connected with the Arts and Crafts movement. He was Chairman of the Museum and School of Arts Committee and was visited by William Morris
in 1880. In 1895 he became a director of the Birmingham Guild of Handicraft when it became a limited company.
Kenrick died at The Grove, Park Lane, Harborne
, Edgbaston
, Warwickshire. A room of his house is in the Victoria and Albert Museum
in London. He is commemorated in the library of Birmingham City University
.
Kenrick married Mary Chamberlain, the sister of Joseph Chamberlain, at the Unity Church in Islington
on 26 August 1862.
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...
politician who was active in local government in 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...
and sat in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1899.
Kenrick was born at West Bromwich
West Bromwich
West Bromwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands, England. It is north west of Birmingham lying on the A41 London-to-Birkenhead road. West Bromwich is part of the Black Country...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, the son of Archibald Kenrick, JP (1798–1878), an iron founder and his wife, Anne Paget (1798–1864). He became a director of the family firm Archibald Kenrick & Sons. He also became active in local politics, being the brother in law of Joseph Chamberlain
Joseph Chamberlain
Joseph Chamberlain was an influential British politician and statesman. Unlike most major politicians of the time, he was a self-made businessman and had not attended Oxford or Cambridge University....
. He became a Town Councillor in 1870, Alderman in 1872 and Mayor of Birmingham from 1877 to 1878. In the 1885 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1885
-Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:...
he became MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Birmingham North
Birmingham North (UK Parliament constituency)
Birmingham North was a parliamentary constituency in the city of Birmingham, England. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first-past-the-post voting system....
. He held the seat until he resigned in 1899 when he became a Privy Councillor. In 1911 he was given Honorary Freedom of the City of Birmingham
Honorary Freedom of the City of Birmingham
Honorary Freemen of the City of BirminghamThe City of Birmingham, England has granted Honorary Freedom to individuals and military organisations since 1888. Designation as a Freeman of the City is an honorary title and, subject to a two thirds majority of the Council, is granted to persons of...
.
Kenrick had educational and artistic interests. He was a Governor of King Edward's School, Birmingham
King Edward's School, Birmingham
King Edward's School is an independent secondary school in Birmingham, England, founded by King Edward VI in 1552. It is part of the Foundation of the Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham, and is widely regarded as one of the most academically successful schools in the country, according to...
and was closely connected with the Arts and Crafts movement. He was Chairman of the Museum and School of Arts Committee and was visited by William Morris
William Morris
William Morris 24 March 18343 October 1896 was an English textile designer, artist, writer, and socialist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement...
in 1880. In 1895 he became a director of the Birmingham Guild of Handicraft when it became a limited company.
Kenrick died at The Grove, Park Lane, Harborne
Harborne
Harborne is an area three miles southwest from Birmingham city centre, England. It is a Birmingham City Council ward in the formal district and in the parliamentary constituency of Birmingham Edgbaston.- Geography :...
, Edgbaston
Edgbaston
Edgbaston is an area in the city of Birmingham in England. It is also a formal district, managed by its own district committee. The constituency includes the smaller Edgbaston ward and the wards of Bartley Green, Harborne and Quinton....
, Warwickshire. A room of his house is in the Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
in London. He is commemorated in the library of Birmingham City University
Birmingham City University
Birmingham City University is a British university in the city of Birmingham, England. It is the second largest of three universities in the city, the other two being the Aston University and University of Birmingham...
.
Kenrick married Mary Chamberlain, the sister of Joseph Chamberlain, at the Unity Church in Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
on 26 August 1862.
Children
- Cicely Kenrick (1869–1950), married Ernest DebenhamErnest DebenhamSir Ernest Ridley Debenham, 1st Baronet , was a British businessman. He was responsible for the considerable expansion of the family's retail and wholesale drapery firm between 1892 and 1927....
on the 8 November 1892. - Millicent Mary Kenrick (1871–1932), married Claude Gerald Napier-Clavering on the 30th July 1897
- Wilfred Byng Kenrick (1872–1962), married his cousin, Norah Beale, on the 24th July 1906
- Gerald William Kenrick (1876–1953), married his cousin, Ruth Chamberlain, on 26 April 1912