Henry Ashworth

Henry Ashworth (4 September 1794 – 17 May 1880) was an English cotton manufacturer, friend of Richard Cobden, and founding member of the Anti-Corn Law League.

Early life and education

Henry Ashworth was born on 4 September 1794 into a prominent Quaker farming family in Birtenshaw, then an outlying hamlet to the north of Bolton, Lancashire. His father was John Ashworth, who supplemented his income by buying cotton and selling it to local cottage weavers.

He was sent to Ackworth School run by the Society of Friends.

Career

In 1808, he became involved at the New Eagley mill, taking over its management in 1818. He was joined by his younger brother Edmund in 1821. Under the partnership of the two brothers, the business expanded, and by 1831, they had 260 employees. In 1832 they bought the partially completed Egerton Mill which had been built upstream at Egerton.

They established schools, a library, and a reading room. Ashworth was a staunch nonconformist, and thus refused to pay church rates. Ashworth supported the schemes of Edwin Chadwick to implement the Poor Law of 1834, but was a tough opponent of trades unions. In a dispute with Edmund, the business was split in 1854, with Henry taking the New Eagley Mill and Edmund the Egerton Mill. By this time, the sons of both brothers had taken over much of the management responsibility. In 1880, Henry Ashworth retired, handing over New Eagley to his eldest son, George Binns Ashworth.

Anti-Corn Law

Ashworth was a founder of the Anti-Corn Law League and was one of its major supporters. He had met Richard Cobden in 1837 and reportedly became a close friend.