Moses Ironmonger (c. 1809 – 25 November 1887) was a successful rope manufacturer who, although an orphan from humble beginnings, twice became Mayor of Wolverhampton (1857–58 and 1868–69).
Moses Ironmonger | |
|---|---|
| Born | Moses Ironmonger c. 1809 London, Middlesex, England |
| Died | 25 November 1887 (aged 78) Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Rope manufacturer |
| Known for | Twice Mayor of Wolverhampton, provincial telephone pioneer |
Ironmonger & Co Ltd. edit
Ironmonger built up a very successful business manufacturing rope, first at Cock Street then a larger site at Gt Brickkiln Street, now the Baynell Building. Ironmonger & Co Ltd. carried on for two further generations until it finally went into liquidation in 1902.[1]
Provincial telephone pioneer edit
He was a friend of the inventor of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell, and in 1880 the first telephone line in Wolverhampton was laid between Ironmonger's factory and the company's offices, a mile away,[2] barely four years after Bell's demonstration of clear speech on a telephone transmission.
Politics edit
A Liberal supporter, Ironmonger was appointed Chief Magistrate in 1857, served as a governor for the Wolverhampton Grammar School and president of the Wolverhampton Chamber of Commerce. He twice served as Mayor of Wolverhampton, 1857–1858 and 1868–1869.[3]
Parish Church of St John the Evangelist edit
Ironmonger was a leading member of the Parish Church of St John the Evangelist. He presented a stained glass window by Ward and Hughes of London, in 1882. He also paid for the encaustic tiling around the font.[4]
Family edit
Ironmonger was born c. 1809 in London, England, and orphaned at 18 years of age,[1] when his father, ropemaker Aaron Ironmonger, died in 1827.[4] He married Mary Ann, née Perry, in 1832 in Wolverhampton, and they had two sons before she died in 1835.[4] He married Elizabeth née Bosworth in 1841, also in Wolverhampton, and lived at the business in Cock Street, now Victoria Street.[5] They had two daughters.[4] He died in Graisley, Wolverhampton, in 1887, after a long illness.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c "Certificates recording the grateful thanks of Wolverhampton Council for the services of Moses Ironmonger". blackcountryhistory.org. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
- ^ "Early Communications". localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 19 December 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
- ^ "Mayors of Wolverhampton 1848–1948". Wolverhampton Archives and Local Studies and Wolverhampton Arts and Museums Services. Archived from the original on 24 December 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
- ^ a b c d "St. John's in the square". www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 23 September 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
- ^ England Census, Staffordshire, Wolverhampton. The National Archives, 1841