Jonathan Backhouse (1779–1842)

Jonathan Backhouse
left to right:Stephen Lushington, Sir John Eardley-Wilmot, Jonathan Backhouse with L.C. Lecesne and others in 1840.
Born	1779
Died	1842
Nationality	English
Occupation	Banker
Known for	Bankers to the

Jonathan Backhouse (1779-1842) was a third generation banker from Darlington. He is known for financing the Stockton to Darlington Railway.

Backhouse was born on 19 January 1779 to Jonathan Backhouse (1747–1826) and his wife Ann (1746-1826) daughter of Edward Pease (1711–1785) of Darlington. After his father died, Backhouse took over what was to become Backhouse's Bank. In 1811 he married Hannah Chapman Gurney. Backhouse was involved with financing the . He raised £125,000. Twenty thousand pounds were from his own resources and the largest contribution of £80,000 came from his Quaker banker contacts.

A story is told that when the Earl of Darlington's plot to bankrupt the Backhouse bank was discovered then Backhouse went to London to obtain gold to provide additional and urgent collateral. The plot was due to the Earl's anger that the new railway, financed by Backhouses's bank was causing problems with the Earl's fox hunting. Backhouse was racing back to Darlington when he lost a wheel. It is said that he was able to continue the journey by moving the gold so that the chaise was still balanced and he was able to complete the journey with a wheel still missing.

Backhouse gave up banking in 1833 in order that he could concentrate on his Quaker ministry.

In 1840, Backhouse is one of the leading people at the World Anti-Slavery Convention organised by Joseph Sturge and the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society in 1840. Backhouse is one the larger figures on the left of the painting. He is shown supporting the chair of the star guest and speaker, Thomas Clarkson.

Backhouse had two daughters and four sons including Edmund Backhouse who took over the banking firm and was also an M.P.