Robert Milligan (Bradford MP)

Robert Milligan
Born	10 October 1786 Dunnance, Kirkcudbright, Kirkcudbrightshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Died	1 July 1862 (aged 75) Acacia, Rawdon
Occupation	Member of Parliament for Bradford, 1851 - 1857
Spouse(s)	Phoebe Briggs
Parent(s)	John Milligan and Elizabeth Charters

Robert Milligan (10 October 1786 – 1 July 1862) was an English Liberal Party politician and the first mayor of Bradford.

He was elected unopposed as Member of Parliament (MP) for Bradford in West Yorkshire at a by-election in October 1851, and held the seat until the 1857 general election.

Robert Milligan was born at Dunnance, Kirkcudbright, Kirkcudbrightshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland on 10 October 1786 to John Milligan (1740 - 1819) of Dunnance, Balmaghie, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. John Milligan was a tenant farmer who married his second wife Elizabeth Charters(1739 - 1831) in 1783. The couple had five children of which Robert was the second child.

Robert Milligan moved to Cross Hills in Craven in about 1802 as a "Travelling Scotchman" working as a door to door salesman. Robert married Phoebe Briggs (1796-1868) at Guiseley in 1818. They had no children but adopted Susan (1813-1886) daughter of Robert's brother, John jnr. By 1810 he had opened a drapers shop in Westgate, Bradford eventually becoming a buyer for Leo Schuster & Co. of Manchester and through that job met Henry Forbes (1790-1870). Together they formed Milligan, Forbes & Co, Stuff Merchants that became synonymous with the stuff trade of Bradford and housed in an impressive new premises on Hall Ings, Bradford in 1853. The Milligan and Forbes Warehouse, now considered Bradford's first palazzo, has been the headquarters of the Telegraph and Argus since the 1920s.

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