David Simpson

David Simpson (5 January 1860 – 15 January 1931) was an English builder, politician, property developer and contractor who was four times mayor of Harrogate, and three times deputy mayor. He developed the whole of the Duchy Estate, a major residential quarter for the rich, more than doubling the rateable value of the town in the first quarter of the 20th century. He was a member of Harrogate Borough Council for 34 years, making him the "father" of the council by the end of his career there. He was a justice of the peace and the first honorary Freeman of the Borough of Harrogate. He was president of the Bilton Ward Conservatives, a member of the Knaresborough Board of Guardians and an alderman of West Riding County Council. He built himself a large, castellated mansion called Oakdale, in 1903, besides the even larger Grand Hotel (now called Windsor House) in Harrogate in the same year..

In spite of his "spectacular success" as a developer, Simpson suffered a financial embarrassment, known as his crash, a few years before the First World War, and lost possession of Oakdale, Although he compounded the situation by going on a sea voyage to New York City and leaving his son to deal with his catastrophe, he retained business confidence, remained a member of the council, and was made freeman in 1923.

Simpson was part of a building dynasty in that he was the son of builder David Simpson, a previous mayor of Harrogate, and the father of Clarence Simpson who also trained in the business. He was a Freemason, and was president of Oakdale Golf club, Harrogate's Cricket and Athletic club and the Old Boys' Rugby Football Club. Two of his sons were killed in action at the Somme during the First World War.

Background

Simpson was born into the family building business, and joined the trade. He was the eldest of the seven children of Alderman James Simpson (1824–1895), a master mason and builder, and Ellen Simpson née Robinson (1828 – 6 December 1885), By 1881, Simpson was a stonemason, and still at 8 Parliament Street with his parents and siblings. As an adult, he was , and had blue eyes and a fresh complexion. They had three sons, two of whom died in the First World War. The eldest son, 2nd Lieutenant James Marsden "Jim" Simpson (1888 – 9 May 1916). of the Huddersfield Rifles and Royal Engineers was in peacetime an engineer working on the Canadian Northern Railway and for Harrogate Borough Council, and a Yorkshire Rugby forward. He was shot in the head by a sniper, near Vimy. The second son, Lieutenant George Simpson (1892 – 23 August 1918), of the Australian Infantry (AIF), and a farmer in peacetime, was also killed in action at the Somme. Simpson's surviving Harrogate-born son was Clarence "Jack" Simpson (18 May 1894 – 5 May 1973), a building apprentice, then a wool merchant.

In 1891, Simpson was describing himself as a builder and contractor, and was living with his wife, son James, and father-in-law George Holmes at 4 St Mary's Walk. By 1911, Simpson, his wife and son, and four servants were living at Oakdale, Killinghall.

Career

Simplson was a builder, contractor, and property developer, describing himself as a "builder and contractor in all branches of the building trade".

Civic duty and other activities

Simpson was a "prominent figure in the civic, social and business life of Harrogate for over 40 years", and by the end of his civic career he was termed the "father" of HarrogateTown Council. He joined his father, Alderman James Simpson, at Harrogate Borough Council in 1887, was made an alderman in 1898, Simpson became a justice of the peace in 1895. Between 1897 and 1910, and again in 1927, he served on the Aldermanic Bench. He was also chairman of the General Purposes Committee, and all of the council's primary committees. and concurrently president of Oakdale Golf Club, Harrogate's Cricket and Athletic Club and the Old Boys' Rugby Football Club.

In retirement, Simpson and his wife went on at least two sea voyages. In 1921, they returned from Cape Town on the SS Llanstephan Castle, sister ship of HMHS Llandovery Castle, to Southampton, via Madeira and East London, arriving on 11 February 1921. In 1926 they returned on the RMS Windsor Castle from Durban, South Africa to Southampton, via Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Madeira and East London, arriving on 15 March 1926. Their address was given as 42 Kent Road, Harrogate.

Death

Following a long illness which had made him an invalid, Simpson died, aged 71, on 15 January 1931, at his home, 36 Rutland Road, Harrogate.