John Howard (16 March 1791 – 23 December 1878)[1] was an English industrialist, an inventor of agricultural equipment and four times the Mayor of Bedford.[2]
John Howard | |
|---|---|
,_Mayor_of_Bedford.jpg) John Howard in 1860 | |
| Born | 16 March 1791 Bedford, England |
| Died | 23 December 1878 (aged 87) Bedford, England |
| Education | Bedford Modern School |
Life edit
Howard was born on 16 March 1791 in Bedford and was educated at Bedford Modern School.[3] The family of Howard had been settled in Bedford and the neighbourhood for three centuries and at one period was possessed of considerable property.[4] His father was John Moore Howard, Governor of the County Gaol in Bedford.[5] Howard was the grandson and great nephew of two former Mayors of Bedford.[5]
Howard was initially apprenticed to an ironmonger at Olney, Buckinghamshire by the Trustees of Bedford Charity.[5] In 1835 he set up an iron foundry in Bedford which he expanded rapidly.[5] The business was known in Bedford as 'The Firm', as it became the largest employer in the town.[5] Specialising in agricultural machinery, he invented and exhibited a two-wheel plough at the first meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society in 1839 for which he won an award.[6][7] John Howard retired from business in 1851 leaving his sons James and Frederick as his successors. In the following year the firm commenced the manufacture of steam ploughs.[8] The business established by Howard would later trade as James & Frederick Howard, the two brothers also building the Britannia Iron Works in Bedford in 1857.[9]
Howard died on 23 December 1878. He was the father of Sir Frederick Howard JP DL[10] and James Howard MP.[11] He was also the grandfather of Sir George Farrar, 1st Baronet and via that line the great great grandfather of James Lowther, 7th Earl of Lonsdale.[12] A painting of Howard is included in the BBC's 'Your Paintings' series.[13]
References edit
- ^ England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
- ^ "Bedford Borough Council". bedford.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
- ^ The Harpur Trust 1552-1973, by Joyce Godber 1973
- ^ History of the Landed Gentry, by Sir Bernard Burke, CB, LLD. Published by Harrison & Sons, London, 1894
- ^ a b c d e "Oil Paintings". bedford.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
- ^ Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, Volume 3, 1842
- ^ "British Farmer's Magazine". google.com. 1848.
- ^ "James and Frederick Howard". gracesguide.co.uk. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
- ^ Who Was Who entry for Sir Frederick Howard
- ^ Who's Who
- ^ "James Howard". gracesguide.co.uk. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
- ^ Debrett's Peerage
- ^ "Art UK - John Howard (1791–1878), Mayor of Bedford (1858–1861)". Art UK. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
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