Charles John Brandling
Charles John Brandling | |
|---|---|
| Born | Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age England |
| Died | 1 February 1826 (aged 56) |
| Occupation(s) | Coal proprietor, legislator |
| Years active | 1798–1826 |
Charles John Brandling (4 February 1769 – 1 February 1826) was a prominent English coal proprietor and legislator.
He was the son of Charles Brandling (1733–1802), who resided at Gosforth House, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne. In 1798, he took over his father's parliamentary seat representing Newcastle, a position he maintained until 1812. Later, from 1820 until his passing, he served as the Member of Parliament for Northumberland.
Brandling’s military involvement included ranks such as lieutenant and captain within the Northumberland militia. In 1819, he was elevated to Lieutenant-Colonel of the Northumberland & Newcastle volunteer cavalry.
In 1802, following his father’s arrangement, he settled at Middleton Lodge near Leeds. The family’s landholdings in this area dated back to a marriage alliance formed in 1697. At Middleton Lodge, Charles John commissioned a detailed survey and appointed mining engineer John Blenkinsop to manage the estate. Blenkinsop introduced a rack and pinion mechanism for the wagonway and supervised the deployment of the first commercially viable steam locomotive designed by Matthew Murray. This advancement significantly improved coal transportation on The Middleton Railway, marking an important milestone in industrial transport technology.
He was married to Frances Elizabeth Hawksworth, daughter of Walter Fawkes from Hawksworth, Yorkshire. The couple did not have any offspring. Among his acquaintances were distinguished individuals including Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey.
In 1817, Brandling led the committee responsible for recognizing George Stephenson’s invention of the Geordie lamp, demonstrating his active participation in promoting industrial progress.