Caleb Wright (August 1, 1810 - April 28, 1898) was a mill owner and Liberal politician in Lancashire, north-west England.

Memorial to Caleb Wright, millowner and Liberal Member of Parliament

He was one of thirteen children of William Wright, bookmaker of Tyldesley, near Manchester.^[1] At the age of nine he began work as a "piecer" in a local cotton mill. ^[2] The only education he received was by attending night schools. At the age of fifteen he became a spinner, and rose to become manager of the mill in 1830.^[1] In 1841 he became manager of Ormerod and Hardcastles Mill, Bolton.^[3]

In 1845 he established his own cotton-spinning business in partnership with Henry Barton. In 1855 the partnership was dissolved, and Caleb Wright and Company, Barnfield Mills, Tyldesley, established.^[2]

Wright became involved in Liberal politics, and was chairman of Tyldesley Local Board and president of the local Mechanics Institute. In 1885 he was elected as the first member of parliament for the new constituency of Leigh. He was re-elected at the next two general elections, before retiring from parliament in 1895.^[4] Politically Wright was an advanced radical, and supported both Home Rule for Ireland and women's suffrage.^[3] He was also a member of the Liberation Society which sought the disestablishment of the Church of England.^[5]

Caleb Wright died at his home, Lower Oak, Shakerley near Tyldesley in 1898 aged 87. He was buried at Chowbent Unitarian Chapel.^[3]

[edit] References

Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs

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