{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}} {{Use British English|date=November 2016}} '''Joseph Woodhead''' (1824 - 21 May 1913) was an English newspaper proprietor and editor and a Liberal Party politician.
Woodhead was the youngest son of Godfrey Woodhead, a currier and leather merchant of Holmfirth. He was educated at private schools but grew up in a home where books and reading were valued. At fifteen he was apprenticed to a woollen manufacturer working all day and studying until late at night. He was a teetotaller and spoke at temperance meeting. In 1851 with a group of like-minded local Liberals he founded the ''Huddersfield Examiner'' newspaper<ref>[http://www.openwriting.com/archives/2008/10/old_joe_woodhea_1.php Open Writing - Old Joe Woodhead]</ref> which was produced in a room over a shop in Kirkgate.<ref>[http://www.examiner.co.uk/tm_objectid=15523562&method=full&siteid=50060&headline=our-back-pages-name_page.html The Huddersfield Daily Examiner Our back pages 16 May 2005] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725061411/http://www.examiner.co.uk/tm_objectid%3D15523562%26method%3Dfull%26siteid%3D50060%26headline%3Dour-back-pages-name_page.html |date=25 July 2011 }}</ref> He made it into a leading exponent of non-conformist liberalism and in 1871 it became a daily evening paper.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=rEYOAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA137 Alan J Lee ''The Origins of the Popular Press in England: 1855-1914'' 1976]</ref> Woodhead also established the ''Dewsbury Reporter''.<ref>[http://www.huddersfield1.co.uk/huddersfield/huddsmemory.htm Huddersfield One] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418053200/http://www.huddersfield1.co.uk/huddersfield/huddsmemory.htm |date=18 April 2008 }}</ref> In 1868, he was elected to Huddersfield Town Council and became an Alderman of Huddersfield and was twice Mayor of Huddersfield in 1876 and 1877.<ref>[http://www2.kirklees.gov.uk/you-kmc/MAYOR/former/pre1974.asp?area=huddersfield Kirklees Council - Huddersfield Mayors] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004222441/http://www2.kirklees.gov.uk/you-kmc/MAYOR/former/pre1974.asp?area=huddersfield |date= 4 October 2008 }}</ref> Huddersfield Town Hall, known as a concert venue, was sited opposite his newspaper offices and in 1885 he was president of the Glee and Madrigal Society - now the Huddersfield Singers.<ref>[http://www.huddersfieldsingers.com/125.html Huddersfield Singers 125th Anniversary]</ref> He was also a J. P.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/debrettshouseo1886londuoft Debretts Guide to the House of Commons 1886]</ref>
At the 1885 general election Woodhead was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Spen Valley. He held the seat until 1892.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.leighrayment.com/commons/Scommons4.htm |title=Leigh Rayment |access-date=1 May 2009 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023222933/http://www.leighrayment.com/commons/Scommons4.htm |archive-date=23 October 2018 }}</ref> He is said to have turned down a baronetcy as he had no wish to be known as other than Joe Woodhead.<ref>[http://www.openwriting.com/archives/2008/10/old_joe_woodhea_1.php Open Writing - Old Joe Woodhead]</ref> In 1898 he was awarded Freedom of the City of Huddersfield.
In the 1891 Census of Huddersfield Woodhead is listed as a 66-year-old Newspaper proprietor, Justice of the Peace and Member of Parliament living at Longdenholme, West Hill, Huddersfield with his four sons.<ref>1901 Census RG12/3568 Folio 87, Page 37, Schedule 221: Huddersfield Municipal Borough - Longdenholme, West Hill, Huddersfield (Names and Surname: Joseph Woodhead, Relation to Head of Family: Head, Condition of Marriage: M, Age last Birthday: 66, Profession or Occupation: Newspaper Proprietor & Editor J P M P, Where Born: Holmfirth, Yorkshire)</ref>
Woodhead lived at Longdenholme, Huddersfield and at Preswylfa, Conway. He died in Huddersfield at the age of 89.<ref>General Register Office index of deaths registered in April, May, June, 1913 - Name: Woodhead, Joseph Age: 89 District: Huddersfield Volume: 9A Page: 424.</ref>
Woodhead married Catherine Woodhead in 1853. Their son Sir German Sims Woodhead became an eminent pathologist.<ref>[http://homepage.eircom.net/~lawedd/TITLESM-Z.htm Huddersfield Titled Classes]</ref> Another son Ernest Woodhead played rugby for England.
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Hansard-contribs | mr-joseph-woodhead | Joseph Woodhead }}
{{s-start}} {{s-par|uk}} {{s-new | constituency}} {{s-ttl | title = Member of Parliament for Spen Valley | years = 1885 – 1892 }} {{s-aft | after = Thomas Whittaker }} {{s-end}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Woodhouse, Joseph}} Category:1824 births Category:1913 deaths Category:British newspaper editors Category:Liberal Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies Category:UK MPs 1885–1886 Category:UK MPs 1886–1892 Category:People from Holmfirth Category:Councillors in Kirklees