Thomas Wakefield (mayor of Nottingham)
Thomas Wakefield | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1791 |
| Died | 1871-10-25 |
| Occupation(s) | Industrial entrepreneur, coal mine owner, newspaper publisher, local official |
| Known for | Owner of coal mines; mayor of Nottingham; Whig politician; owner of Nottingham Mercury newspaper |
Thomas Wakefield (1791–1871) was a prominent English industrial entrepreneur, owner of coal mines, newspaper publisher, and Whig-affiliated local official who held the position of mayor of Nottingham on two occasions. Following his bankruptcy in 1848, he adopted a more subdued role as a public servant.
Bernard Burke referred to Wakefield as "the leading figure in the entire town," famously nicknamed King Tom due to his significant sway and widespread esteem. He was repeatedly approached to stand as Nottingham’s Member of Parliament and was presented with an elaborate gold plate service during his tenure as mayor.
Life
Born to cotton manufacturer Francis Wakefield (deceased 1820) and Mary Ward, Thomas hailed from a family deeply rooted in commerce and academia, including his uncle Gilbert Wakefield. He played a key role in supporting the establishment of Nottingham General Hospital and was an advocate for local Sunday school initiatives connected with St Peter's Church.
Although known for his philanthropy, Wakefield also owned impoverished housing within Nottingham. His residences included Low Pavement, where his father had lived, and later the Exchange Buildings after experiencing financial setbacks.
In business
In 1816, Wakefield inherited a stake in his father’s enterprise, then operating under the name Hancock Wakefield & Harker. Together with his younger brother Francis, he managed the family textile business from 1825 onward after purchasing partner John Hancock’s shares. Their operations included a cotton mill situated in Mansfield, with commercial activities based at Church Gate, Nottingham. The firm was penalized in 1837 for violating child labour regulations by employing children under the age of thirteen in Mansfield. By 1840, the Field and Town Mills previously utilized by the company were listed for lease. The partnership between Francis and Thomas was dissolved in 1843; by the following year, Thomas held an interest in the Leicester textile firm Kelly & Co. Francis passed away in 1848.
The business ventures extended beyond textiles to include hosiery production as well as brass and iron foundries. In 1835, Thomas partnered with Thomas North to enter the coal mining sector, investing capital from Babbington coal mines to expand operations across the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Coalfield areas. They developed an interconnected railway system servicing these mining sites. By 1845, two more partners had joined their venture, including a member of the Morley family, proprietors of hosiery manufacturer I. & R. Morley.
Investment in the deeper Cinderhill Colliery near Babbington proved precarious; mining activities ceased between 1845 and 1847, culminating in Wakefield’s financial collapse. Thomas North maintained ownership with support from Wright's Bank.
Local politics
Wakefield served as one of Nottingham’s two sheriffs alongside Richard Hopper Jr. during 1815–16. As a Whig and advocate for Liberal reforms, he was a senior member of Nottingham’s borough council prior to parliamentary reform. In 1819, following the Peterloo Massacre, he publicly defended the right to petition at a local meeting.
During the Great Reform Bill debates of 1830–31, Wakefield co-led a reform petition campaign alongside John Heard but encountered resistance from more radical factions. Although considered as a Whig candidate for Nottingham’s parliamentary seat, he was ultimately passed over in favor of Sir Ronald Craufurd Ferguson. During the cholera epidemic of 1831–32 in Nottingham, he chaired the emergency Board of Health.
Wakefield was elected mayor at Nottingham’s inaugural Town Council meeting in 1836 and served again in 1842. In 1847, he divested his principal stake in the Nottingham Mercury, which he had used over twenty years to oppose enclosure acts, selling it to Thomas Bailey.
Later life
In the course of bankruptcy proceedings, Wakefield resided in 1849 at Lenton, Nottingham, which was then outside the city limits of Nottingham. Subsequently, he undertook various positions such as Mayor's Sergeant, as well as Keeper of the Exchange and Public Office rooms. He passed away on 25 October 1871 at the Police Office while holding the offices of Mayor's Sergeant, Inspector of Weights and Measures, and Billet Master.
Other interests
Wakefield was affiliated with the Unitarian faith and played a role in supporting the establishment of a Mechanics' Institute in 1837. From 1826 until 1850, he held the presidency of the Artisans' Library. During 1830–31, he was involved in a dispute with surgeon Thomas Jowett regarding authority over the Nottingham Dispensary. Additionally, he maintained a friendship with the Nottingham poet Robert Millhouse.