John Turner Hopwood (1829 – 1 January 1900)[1] was an English Liberal Party politician, and barrister.

Hopwood when a Member of Parliament

He was the only son of Robert (1800–1860) and Elizabeth (née Turner) Hopwood (d. 1874). His paternal grandfather, also named Robert, was the second mayor of Blackburn.[2] He was called to the bar at Middle Temple on 1 May 1854.[3]

At the 1857 general election, he was elected unopposed as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Clitheroe[4] in Lancashire. He was returned unopposed in 1859,[4] and stood down from the House of Commons at the 1865 general election.[4]

On 7 April 1858, Hopwood married Mary Augusta Henrietta Coventry (1841–1894), the granddaughter of George Coventry, 8th Earl of Coventry.[5] Their son, Aubrey Hopwood, was a novelist who co-wrote the lyrics for A Runaway Girl, The Lucky Star, and Alice in Wonderland.[6] Their third son, Rear Admiral Ronald Arthur Hopwood (1868–1949) was referred to as the "poet laureate" of the Royal Navy by Time Magazine.[7]

Hopwood had a particular passion for organ music and had a pipe organ installed in his home. The instrument is now in the Parr Hall Warrington.

References edit

  1. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "C" (part 4)
  2. ^ Parish of Blackburn, County of Lancaster: A History of Blackburn, Town and Parish (1877) p. 398 12 July 2011
  3. ^ Foster's Hand List of Men-at-the-Bar, 2nd Edition by Joseph Foster p. 226, 12 July 2011
  4. ^ a b c Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1977]. British parliamentary election results 1832–1885 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 94. ISBN 0-900178-26-4.
  5. ^ "Ancestors of David Robarts" stepneyrobarts.co.uk 12 July 2011
  6. ^ "Hpokinson-Hornby" Who's Who, Volume 57 (1905), p. 795 published by A & C Black 12 July 2011
  7. ^ "World War: Debutantes Celebrated", Time Magazine, 6 January 1941, archived from the original on 3 December 2007

External links edit

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Clitheroe
18571865
Succeeded by