William Scholefield

William Scholefield (August 1809 – 9 July 1867) was a British businessman and Liberal politician. He was a leading figure in the politics of the rapidly growing industrial town of Birmingham in the mid-nineteenth century, serving as the first mayor in 1838–39, and one of the constituency's two Members of Parliament from 1847 to 1867.

Early life and family Scholefield was born in Birmingham, and was the second son of Joshua Scholefield and his wife Mary née Cotterill. His father was an iron manufacturer, merchant and banker who became one of the town's first members of parliament in 1832. The government of the town was in hands of a manorial court leet, presided over by a high bailiff.

Parliamentary politics In July 1844 William Scholefield's father died, causing a vacancy in the parliamentary representation of the borough. Scholefield contested the resulting by-election, but was defeated by the Conservative candidate Richard Spooner.