Benjamin Heywood

Sir Benjamin Heywood, 1st Baronet FRS (12 December 1793 – 11 August 1865) was an English banker and philanthropist.

Born in St Ann's Square, Manchester, grandson of Thomas Percival, son of Nathaniel Heywood and Ann Percival, and brother to Thomas Heywood and James Heywood, and nephew to Samuel Heywood. He lived at "Claremont" to the north west of the city centre in Irlams o' th' Height.^[1] Nicknamed Big Ben Heywood as he was the first Heywood over 6 ft tall.

After attending the University of Glasgow, he entered his father's bank becoming a partner in 1814 and sole proprietor in 1828. He was an enthusiast for workers' education and was a founder of the Manchester Mechanics' Institute, serving as its president from 1825 until 1840. Heywood briefly served as Member of Parliament for Lancashire from 1831 until 1832, receiving his baronetcy in recognition of his work in support of the 1832 Reform Bill. He was also active in the Manchester Statistical Society.^[1]

The family had a strong affinity with the south Derbyshire and Staffordshire area and bought a summer retreat at Dove Leys, near Denstone (When the Claremont area (Irlams o' th' Height) of Pendleton, Salford, was built up, many of the streets were given names such as Duffield Road, Doveleys Road, Denstone Road, among others.)

He was the father of:

• Sir Thomas Percival Heywood, 2nd Baronet;^[1]
• Oliver Heywood; and
• Rev. R.H. Heywood.

Honours

• Baronet, (1838)^[1]
• Fellow of the Royal Society, (1843)^[1]

See also

• Heywood's Bank

References

1. McConnell (2004)

Bibliography

• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs
• Leigh Rayment's list of baronets
• Heywood, T. (1888). A Memoir of Sir Benjamin Heywood.
• McConnell, A. (2004) "Heywood, Sir Benjamin, first baronet (1793–1865)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, accessed 10 Aug 2007 (subscription required)