# James Heald

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English philanthropist and politician

**James Heald** (1 March 1796 – 26 October 1873) was a Manchester banker, evangelical Methodist philanthropist, and single-term Member of Parliament, representing [Stockport](/source/Stockport_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) as a [Peelite](/source/Peelite) [free trade](/source/Free_trade) Conservative from 1847 to 1852.

Born in [Brinnington](/source/Brinnington), near [Stockport](/source/Stockport), Heald was brought up as a Methodist, but considered becoming an Anglican clergyman. Instead, he joined his father's [calico](/source/Calico) printing business, later moving to [Parrs Wood House](/source/Parrs_Wood_House). He led the foundation of a northern branch of the Theological Institution in [Didsbury](/source/Didsbury).[1][2]

Heald became a magistrate for both Lancashire and Cheshire, and also served as a deputy lieutenant of Cheshire. He stood in [Stockport](/source/Stockport_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) for the [Conservative Party](/source/Conservative_Party_(UK)) at the [1847 UK general election](/source/1847_UK_general_election), winning a seat. Unusually for a Conservative, he supported [free trade](/source/Free_trade). He was opposed to Catholic clergy receiving endowments.[1]

Heald contested Stockport again at the [1852 UK general election](/source/1852_UK_general_election), but was defeated. He then contested the December 1852 by-election in [Oldham](/source/Oldham_(UK_Parliament_constituency)), but was again unsuccessful.[1] From 1861 until his death, he was the treasurer of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society. [St Paul's Methodist Church, Didsbury](/source/St_Paul's_Methodist_Church%2C_Didsbury) was built in his memory.[2] [Healdtown](/source/Healdtown) in South Africa is also named after him.[3]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-stenton_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-stenton_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-stenton_1-2) Stenton, Michael (1976). *Who's Who of British Members of Parliament*. Vol. 1. Hassocks: Harvester Press. p. 185. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0855272198](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0855272198).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-methodism_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-methodism_2-1) ["Heald, James, MP"](https://dmbi.online/index.php?do=app.entry&id=1296). *A Dictionary of Methodism in Britain and Ireland*. Methodist Publishing House. Retrieved 19 February 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-dosapn_3-0)** Raper, Peter E. (1987). [*Dictionary of Southern African Place Names*](https://archive.org/stream/DictionaryOfSouthernAfricanPlaceNames/SaPlaceNames#page/n201/mode/2up). Internet Archive. p. 201. Retrieved 28 August 2013.

Parliament of the United Kingdom Preceded by Henry Marsland Richard Cobden Member of Parliament for Stockport 1847–1852 With: Richard Cobden (1847) James Kershaw (1847–1852) Succeeded by James Kershaw John Benjamin Smith

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