Edward Brotherton, 1st Baron Brotherton

Edward Allen Brotherton, 1st Baron Brotherton, (1 April 1856 – 21 October 1930 ), known as Sir Edward Brotherton, Bt, between 1918 and 1929, was an industrialist in Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England and a benefactor to the University of Leeds and other causes. He was also a Conservative Party politician, and sat in the House of Commons between 1902 and 1922.

Early life and education Edward Allen Brotherton was born 1 April 1856 at 2 Tiverton Place, Ardwick Green, Manchester to Theophilus Brotherton, a yarn agent, and Sarah née O'Donnell. He was also related to educational reformer Edward Brotherton and to the first MP for Salford, Joseph Brotherton.

At 16, Brotherton signed up to be a ship’s boy on a freighter leaving Liverpool. A storm and a leak in the ship led to a frightening 14 hours before the ship could be brought back to Birkenhead. Brotherton made his way back to Manchester and did not go to sea again. He became a junior clerk with D.V. Steward and Co. of Manchester, manufacturers of sulphate of ammonia. He rose to become manager of the company, studying in the evenings at Owens College in Manchester. At this time, he also attended evening classes in chemistry taught by Henry Roscoe at Owens College, Manchester. At 19 he began work at a chemical works in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

In 1889 Brotherton's partnership with the Dyson brothers ended and he continued the business alone under the name Brotherton and Co. The company would go on to become one of the largest private chemical companies in the country expanding into coal tar distillation and manufacturing products such as pitch, TNT and creosote during the First World War. The business also moved from headquarters in Wakefield to City Chambers, Leeds. Brotherton's nephew Charles Ratcliffe, husband of Dorothy Una Ratcliffe, later succeeded his uncle as head of the business and took the name Brotherton. The company continued after Brotherton's death until 1957 when it was acquired by British Chrome and Chemicals.

Political career Brotherton was Conservative MP for Wakefield from 1902 to 1910 and again from 1918 to 1922, he became very attached to the town; winning his first seat in parliament under the slogan "a Wakefield man for Wakefield" - despite being from Manchester. He was first elected at a by-election in March 1902, after his predecessor Lord Milton (subsequently the 7th Earl Fitzwilliam) inherited a peerage and became a member of the House of Lords.

Brotherton was elected as Alderman/Councillor for Leeds City from 1911 to 1915 and was Lord Mayor of Leeds in 1913–14. He was also an Alderman of Wakefield from 1901. He had a keen sense of public duty and acted as the Mayor of Wakefield (1902-1903), the Lord Mayor of Leeds (1913-1914), and Member of Parliament for Wakefield (1902-1910, 1918-1920). At the beginning of the First World War he raised and equipped the 15th battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment, known as “The Leeds Pals”, and became its Honorary Colonel.

During the time Brotherton served as Lord Mayor of Leeds, his niece, Dorothy Una Ratcliffe, took the role of Lady Mayoress. As Lord Mayor he raised the West Yorkshire Regiment (Leeds Pals) at his own expense, in return receiving the title of Honorary Colonel. Brotherton enjoyed showing his treasures to visitors to his home and welcomed many scholars to his private library.

Today the Brotherton Circle honours the generosity of alumni and friends who include a gift to the University of Leeds in their will.

Marriage and child On 24 June 1882 Brotherton married Mary Jane Brookes, daughter of artist and designer Warwick Brookes. They lived together for only one year. Mary gave birth in May 1883, but her baby did not survive, and Mary died shortly after, in June. Brotherton never remarried and had no children, but he kept in contact with Mary's family for the rest of his life.

Honours Brotherton was created a Baronet, of Wakefield in the West Riding of the County of York, in 1918. He was raised to the peerage as Baron Brotherton of Wakefield in the County of York in 1929 for "political, public and charitable causes". As he had no son, both titles became extinct upon his death.

Death Brotherton spent his later years at Roundhay Hall, Leeds (now Spire Leeds Hospital) and Kirkham Hall, Yorkshire where he died on 21 October 1930 at the age of 74. His burial at Lawnswood Cemetery, Leeds on 24 October 1930 was attended only by the male members of his family, at his stipulation.