Richard Fryer (politician)
Richard Fryer | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Wednesfield, Staffordshire, England |
| Died | August 8, 1846 (aged 75) |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, land proprietor, politician |
| Years active | Early 19th century – 1846 |
| Known for | Member of Parliament for Wolverhampton (1832–1835), founder of Union Flour Mill Company |
Richard Fryer (11 November 1770 – 8 August 1846) was a prominent Staffordshire banker, land proprietor, and a British Whig politician. He represented Wolverhampton as a Member of Parliament between 1832 and 1835.
Background
Born to Richard Fryer of Wednesfield and Dorothea Wood of Wednesbury Hall, Fryer descended from distinguished Royalist families rooted in Staffordshire. His grandfather belonged to the Fryer lineage of Thornes near Shenstone, where the family estate featured an ancient hall surrounded by a moat.
In his professional career, Fryer was a banker who played a key role in establishing the Union Flour Mill Company located in Wolverhampton. He married Mary Fleeming in 1794, the heiress of William Fleeming from The Wergs, Tettenhall. The couple lived at The Wergs Old Hall and had seven children, including their son William Fleeming Fryer, who inherited the family estates. The Fleeming family traced their ancestry back to William Le Flemyng of Wightwick around 1271.
Amid poor crop yields and technological progress in steam milling, Fryer led a committee that successfully raised public capital to construct a large steam-powered flour mill on the Birmingham Canal Navigations at Horseley Fields. Production of flour commenced early in 1813, with bread manufacturing added later that year.
Fryer also purchased land on Darlington Street and School Street in Wolverhampton, which he sold at below market rates to local Methodists for building a new church. This decision faced opposition from Anglicans concerned about the expansion of non-conformist influence.
Together with his son William Fleeming Fryer, he acted as local bankers for Spooner & Co., an institution that eventually became part of Barclays bank.
Member of Parliament for Wolverhampton
After the enactment of the Reform Act 1832, Fryer won election during the 1832 general election as one of two representatives for the newly created borough constituency of Wolverhampton. He served until he chose not to seek re-election at the 1835 general election.
After Parliament
In 1845, Fryer obtained a lease from Lord Hatherton for land near Leamore Lane in Bloxwich, intending to develop coal mining and iron production facilities. Two blast furnaces were built during the 1850s. Subsequently, his son William Fleeming Fryer leased these Hatherton furnaces to G. and R. Thomas, operators based in Bloxwich.