# Jacob Bright

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[The Rt Hon.](/source/The_Right_Honourable) **Jacob Bright** (26 May 1821 – 7 November 1899) was a British [Liberal](/source/Liberal_Party_(UK)) politician serving as [Mayor](/source/Mayor) of [Rochdale](/source/Rochdale) and later [Member of Parliament](/source/Member_of_Parliament_(United_Kingdom)) for [Manchester](/source/Manchester).

## Background

Bright was born at Green Bank near [Rochdale](/source/Rochdale), [Lancashire](/source/Lancashire). He was the fourth of eleven children of Jacob Bright and Martha Wood. His father was a [Quaker](/source/Quaker) and had established a [cotton](/source/Cotton)-spinning business at Fieldhouse. His elder brother, [John Bright](/source/John_Bright), was a radical politician, and his sister, [Priscilla Bright McLaren](/source/Priscilla_Bright_McLaren), campaigned for [women's rights](/source/Women's_rights).[1][2]

Jacob Bright was educated at the Friends School in [York](/source/York) before entering the family business of John Bright & Brothers, cotton-spinners.[2] Bright and his brother Thomas managed the firm, and by 1885 the business had expanded into carpet manufacture.[3] He was also responsible for introducing the [linotype machine](/source/Linotype_machine) to England.[1]

Bright was an [anti-vivisectionist](/source/Anti-vivisectionist). He was an honorary member of the [National Anti-Vivisection Society](/source/National_Anti-Vivisection_Society).[4]

## Career

### Civic politics

Bright became involved in [radical](/source/Radical_Party_(UK)) politics and supported [Chartism](/source/Chartism).[1] He was the first [mayor](/source/Mayor) of [Rochdale](/source/County_Borough_of_Rochdale) on the town's incorporation as a [municipal borough](/source/Municipal_borough).[2] He stood for [election in 1865](/source/1865_United_Kingdom_general_election) in Manchester. Although unsuccessful on his first attempt, he won a [by-election in 1867](/source/1867_Manchester_by-election).[2] The election was notable because [Lilly Maxwell](/source/Lilly_Maxwell) voted for Bright. This vote by a woman was later overturned.[5] Bright was one of the earliest supporters of the construction of the Manchester Ship Canal.[6]

### National politics

Bright held his seat at [the general election in 1868](/source/1868_United_Kingdom_general_election). He lost his seat at the [1874 general election](/source/1874_United_Kingdom_general_election), but was returned to parliament at the [by-election in 1876](/source/1876_Manchester_by-election).[2] When the three-seat [Parliamentary Borough of Manchester](/source/Manchester_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) was divided into eight single-seat constituencies [in 1885](/source/Redistribution_of_Seats_Act_1885), Bright was selected as the Liberal candidate for the new [Manchester South West](/source/Manchester_South_West_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) constituency. He was defeated in [1885](/source/1885_United_Kingdom_general_election), but successful in the general election in [1886](/source/1886_United_Kingdom_general_election).[2] As a [Member of Parliament](/source/Member_of_Parliament_(United_Kingdom)), Bright was considered an "advanced radical". He was a peace campaigner and supported [women's suffrage](/source/Women's_suffrage).[2]

Bright remained as MP for South West Manchester until 1895. Upon retirement, Bright was sworn into the [privy council](/source/Privy_council) at the suggestion of [Lord Rosebery](/source/Lord_Rosebery).[2] Jacob Bright died at midnight on 7/8 November 1899, aged 78, at his residence, "Nunn's Acre", [Goring-on-Thames](/source/Goring-on-Thames), [Oxfordshire](/source/Oxfordshire).[2] He was cremated without a funeral service. The central committee of the Society for Women's Suffrage passed a resolution recognising his contribution to the movement.[1] There is a memorial for Jacob and Ursula at [St George's Church, Esher](/source/St_George's_Church,_Esher).

## Family

In 1855, Bright married [Ursula Mellor Bright](/source/Ursula_Mellor_Bright), daughter of a Liverpool merchant and campaigner for women's rights. They had three children.[1]

## References

1. Alan Ruston (2004). ["Bright, Jacob (1821–1899)"](http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/3418). [doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/3418](https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/3418). Retrieved 2008-10-10.

1. *Obituary*, The Times, 9 November 1899, p.6

1. *Biographies of Candidates*, The Times, 25 November 1885, p.5

1. "Obituary: The Right Hon. Jacob Bright, P.C., J.P.". *[The Zoophilist](/source/The_Zoophilist_(magazine))*. **19** (8): 170. 1899.

1. [In Prise of ... Lily Maxwell](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/mar/19/in-praise-of-lily-maxwell), 19 March 2011, The Guardian, Retrieved 30 January 2016

1. "Manchester Ship Canal: Half-Yearly Meeting - Statement from the Chairman". *The Manchester Guardian*. 22 February 1900. p. 4.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jacob Bright](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Bright) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Bright?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.