Peter Greenall (politician)
Peter Greenall | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1796-04-25 Wilderspool, Warrington, England |
| Died | 1845-09-25 |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, politician |
| Known for | Brewing industry, Conservative MP for Wigan |
Peter Greenall (25 April 1796 – 25 September 1845) was a British entrepreneur in brewing and a politician aligned with the Conservative party.
Family
Greenall was born in Wilderspool, Warrington, as the son of Edward Greenall and Betty Pratt of Walton Hall, Cheshire. He was also the sibling of Sir Gilbert Greenall, 1st Baronet. In 1821, he wed Eleanor Pilkington, whose father was William Pilkington and whose brothers, Richard and William Pilkington, were partners in a regional wine and spirits enterprise. The union included a dowry amounting to £1,000.
Business
The family brewery originated with his grandfather, Thomas Greenall, who founded it in South Lancashire in 1761; this enterprise eventually contributed to the development of St Helens, Merseyside. The company remained under family control until Peter assumed management of the brewery and related assets in 1818. He enhanced local amenities by installing water conduits from the brewery’s ponds to supply wealthier residents. Additionally, Greenall established the first building society in the area, which spurred significant housing construction on his properties, generating rental income of £2,500 annually by 1830.
Greenall served as leader of the Independent Order of Oddfellows lodge from its inception in 1825 and was elevated to grandmaster when St Helens attained district status. He endorsed share certificates for the local branch of the Gas Light and Coke Company formed in 1832 and played an instrumental role in initiating the St Helens and Runcorn Gap Railway in 1830, facilitating competitive transportation access to the River Mersey compared to the Trent and Mersey Canal.
His involvement extended to the Pilkington glassworks company, where despite owning only three out of eleven shares, his influence at Parr, Lyon and Greenall bank in Warrington was vital in stabilizing Pilkington amid a severe economic downturn. By 1842, during its most challenging period, the firm’s overdraft had escalated to £20,000 against total shares valued at merely £22,600.
Political career
Greenall sought election as a Conservative Member of Parliament for Wigan during the 1837 general election but did not succeed. He won a seat in Parliament at the 1841 election. While serving as MP, he successfully advocated for the passage of both the St Helens Waterworks Bill (1844) and the St Helens Improvement Bill (1845), which established structured local governance for the borough. His tenure was cut short by his death later that same year.
Death
On 18 September 1845, Greenall passed away at his residence in St Helens due to apoplexy. His significance within the community was evident as shops partially closed in mourning and fully shuttered on his funeral day, which saw a large turnout from local residents paying their respects. His standing within the town remained notably strong.