William Henry Wakefield
William Henry Wakefield | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1828-05-18 Broughton Lodge near Cartmel, England |
| Died | 1889 |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, businessman |
| Years active | 1850–1889 |
| Known for | Senior partner of Wakefield Crewdson & Co., involvement in railway enterprises and gunpowder production |
William Henry Wakefield (1828–1889) was a prominent English banker who became the senior partner of the family-owned Wakefield Crewdson & Co. bank starting in 1864. His business interests extended beyond banking, including involvement in railway enterprises and the production of gunpowder.
Early years
Wakefield was born on 18 May 1828 at Broughton Lodge near Cartmel. He was the son of John Wakefield III, a member of the Kendal banking dynasty. Although the Wakefield family adhered to Quaker beliefs, his father was excluded from the Quaker community due to his marriage to an Anglican. William was one of six siblings born to John Wakefield and Fanny McArthur, originally from Glasgow.
Career
Beginning his career at the family bank in 1850, Wakefield rose to senior partner by 1864 after the family secured a controlling interest in 1863. His professional activities included gunpowder manufacturing alongside his banking duties. He also held a directorship at the South Durham and Lancashire Union Railway, a vital rail line crossing the Pennines that linked Furness with northeastern England, illustrating his participation in regional transport infrastructure.
By 1873, Wakefield owned more than 5,000 acres in Westmorland. In 1858, he erected a home at Prizett near Kendal and subsequently built Sedgwick House following his inheritance of a substantial bank share upon his father's passing in 1866. His patronage extended to local developments such as St Thomas' Church in Crosscrake, which was designed by architects Paley and Austin—the same firm responsible for Sedgwick House. Together with Sir Francis Powell, he was instrumental in rescuing Sedbergh School during a financially challenging period.
Death
Wakefield passed away during a hunting expedition. His gunpowder firm, W. H. Wakefield & Co., continued operating into the twentieth century. In 1893, the Kendal-based bank was absorbed by the Bank of Liverpool.
Family
He wed Augusta, daughter of James Hagarty, who served as the US Consul in Liverpool. Their seven offspring included cricketer William Wakefield (1870–1922) and Mary Augusta Wakefield (1853–1910), who gained recognition for organizing musical festivals.