Richard Fothergill (politician)

Richard Fothergill (8 November 1822 – 24 June 1903) was an English ironmaster, a coalmine-owner in Wales and a Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1868 to 1880.

Fothergill was the son of Richard Fothergill of Lowbridge House, near Kendal and his wife Charlotte Elderton, daughter of Charles Elderton, Esq. He was educated at the Military Academy, Edinburgh.

Fothergill succeeded his uncle Rowland Fothergill (1749-1871) as manager, of the Aberdare iron-works and was later their proprietor. During this period a campaign was conducted against the company for their alleged support of the truck system. The campaign was led by Thomas Price of Calfaria, Aberdare, although ironically he and Fothergill soon buried their differences and became allies in the world of local politics.

In 1854 he was elected on the first Aberdare Local Board of Health and soon became its chairman. In 1857, however, Fothergill was prosecuted for alleged misconduct during the Board of Health election. The case was dismissed by the Police Court on the basis that intent could not be proved As a result of this episode, Fothergill temporarily retired from public life although the episode served to strengthen the alliance between Fothergill and Thomas Price, who had been a fellow candidate at the election.

Following the closure of the Aberaman Ironworks in 1858, Fothergill became the most substantial ironmaster in the Aberdare Valley, although his works at Llwydcoed and Abernant were small compared with those at Merthyr. In 1862 he acquired the Plymouth works near Merthyr where he developed the business significantly by introducing the hot-blast system . He also acquired the Penydarren works, and thus acquired at Merthyr almost as much prestige and popularity there as he had at Aberdare. He became J.P. and Deputy Lieutenant for Glamorgan and a J.P. for Pembrokeshire.

...
Wikipedia