fbpx
Wikipedia

Edward Fordham Flower

October 21, 2023

Edward Fordham Flower (1805–1883) was an English brewer and author who campaigned for a Shakespeare memorial theatre and against cruelty to animals.[1]

Edward Fordham Flower in old age with his wife Celina

Origins Edit

Born at Marden Hill in Hertfordshire on 31 January 1805, he was the younger surviving son of Richard Flower and nephew of both Benjamin Flower[1] and John Clayton. His mother was Elizabeth Fordham, daughter of Edward Fordham and sister of Edward King Fordham.

Life Edit

When he was aged 12, his father took his family to live in the newly created community of Albion in Illinois.[2] The settlement included free Negroes, who were abducted by a gang of kidnappers to sell into slavery. Edward led a party that captured the gang at rifle point, freed their captives and saw the leaders tried and punished. Threatened with death by their supporters, Edward was sitting at home when a bullet shattered the mirror above his head.[3]

His father sent him back to England and in 1824 he settled at Stratford-upon-Avon, where he joined a business.[1] and in 1827 married the owner's daughter. In 1831 he built his own brewery in Stratford, with a canal frontage for delivery and distribution. The enterprise flourished, becoming Flower and Sons Ltd, and when larger premises using latest technology were opened in 1870, the original brewery was used for offices with reduced production. By 1836 the first tied public house had been linked to the firm and their inn holdings increased gradually. Export trade, particularly of India pale ale, was always a large sector of the business.[4]

As a major employer in the area, he was influential in local affairs, serving four times as mayor of Stratford and sitting as a justice of the peace for Warwickshire. He attempted to enter national politics, standing as Liberal candidate for Coventry in 1865 and for North Warwickshire in 1868, but was not successful.[1]

Perhaps his greatest legacy is his involvement in the celebrations, to which he was a major financial contributor, marking the tercentenary of Shakespeare's birth in 1864,[1][5] and the impetus they gave to create a permanent memorial in the town. Fund raising began to erect a theatre, which opened in 1879 as the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre.

In 1873 he retired and moved to London where, being a great lover of horses, he spent the rest of his life campaigning to reduce the suffering caused by inappropriate harness, in particular tight bearing reins (also criticised in the 1877 novel Black Beauty[6][7]) and gag bits.[1][8]

He died in London on 26 March 1883, followed by his widow on 2 March 1884.[1]

Family Edit

In 1827 he married Celina Greaves, eldest daughter of John Greaves (1774-1849), later a banker living at Radford Semele,[1] and his wife Mary Whitehead (1779-1864). She was the sister of the slate entrepreneur John Whitehead Greaves. They were survived by three sons:

Writings Edit

Works he authored were:

  • A Few Words about Bearing Reins, 1875.[1]
  • Bits and Bearing Reins, 1875, illustrated by John Paget.[1]
  • Horses and Harness, 1876.[1]
  • The Stones of London, or Macadam v. Vestries, 1880.[1]

References Edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Boase, George Clement (1885–1900), "Flower, Edward Fordham", Dictionary of National Biography, vol. 19, London: Smith, Elder & Co
  2. ^ Boase, George Clement, "Flower, Edward Fordham (1805–83)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, vol. 19
  3. ^ Chicago Tribune, 9 April 1883, p. 4, retrieved 4 November 2017
  4. ^ "Flower and Sons LTD, Brewers, of Stratford-Upon-Avon".
  5. ^ "Bust of Shakespeare, produced to advertise Flowers Ales | Unknown | V&A Explore the Collections".
  6. ^ "Black Beauty Analysis | Shmoop".
  7. ^ "Black Beauty (1994) - the Bearing Rein Scene (7/10) | Movieclips". YouTube.
  8. ^ "Bits and Bearing - Reins. By Edward Fordham Flower. Second Edition. (Ridgway.)—No » 15 May 1875 » the Spectator Archive".

Further reading Edit

Jonathan Reinaez, A Social History of a Midland Brewery: Flower and Sons Brewery, 1870-1914 (Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Warwick, 1998)

October 21, 2023
edward, fordham, flower, 1805, 1883, english, brewer, author, campaigned, shakespeare, memorial, theatre, against, cruelty, animals, with, wife, celinacontents, origins, life, family, writings, references, further, readingorigins, editborn, marden, hill, hertf. Edward Fordham Flower 1805 1883 was an English brewer and author who campaigned for a Shakespeare memorial theatre and against cruelty to animals 1 Edward Fordham Flower in old age with his wife CelinaContents 1 Origins 2 Life 3 Family 4 Writings 5 References 6 Further readingOrigins EditBorn at Marden Hill in Hertfordshire on 31 January 1805 he was the younger surviving son of Richard Flower and nephew of both Benjamin Flower 1 and John Clayton His mother was Elizabeth Fordham daughter of Edward Fordham and sister of Edward King Fordham Life EditWhen he was aged 12 his father took his family to live in the newly created community of Albion in Illinois 2 The settlement included free Negroes who were abducted by a gang of kidnappers to sell into slavery Edward led a party that captured the gang at rifle point freed their captives and saw the leaders tried and punished Threatened with death by their supporters Edward was sitting at home when a bullet shattered the mirror above his head 3 His father sent him back to England and in 1824 he settled at Stratford upon Avon where he joined a business 1 and in 1827 married the owner s daughter In 1831 he built his own brewery in Stratford with a canal frontage for delivery and distribution The enterprise flourished becoming Flower and Sons Ltd and when larger premises using latest technology were opened in 1870 the original brewery was used for offices with reduced production By 1836 the first tied public house had been linked to the firm and their inn holdings increased gradually Export trade particularly of India pale ale was always a large sector of the business 4 As a major employer in the area he was influential in local affairs serving four times as mayor of Stratford and sitting as a justice of the peace for Warwickshire He attempted to enter national politics standing as Liberal candidate for Coventry in 1865 and for North Warwickshire in 1868 but was not successful 1 Perhaps his greatest legacy is his involvement in the celebrations to which he was a major financial contributor marking the tercentenary of Shakespeare s birth in 1864 1 5 and the impetus they gave to create a permanent memorial in the town Fund raising began to erect a theatre which opened in 1879 as the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre In 1873 he retired and moved to London where being a great lover of horses he spent the rest of his life campaigning to reduce the suffering caused by inappropriate harness in particular tight bearing reins also criticised in the 1877 novel Black Beauty 6 7 and gag bits 1 8 He died in London on 26 March 1883 followed by his widow on 2 March 1884 1 Family EditIn 1827 he married Celina Greaves eldest daughter of John Greaves 1774 1849 later a banker living at Radford Semele 1 and his wife Mary Whitehead 1779 1864 She was the sister of the slate entrepreneur John Whitehead Greaves They were survived by three sons Charles Edward Flower 1830 1892 1 who ran the brewery with the youngest brother Edgar but had no children Sir William Henry Flower 1831 1899 who pursued a scientific career becoming Director of the Natural History Museum 1 Edgar Flower 1833 1903 1 who ran the brewery with Charles and passed it to his son Sir Archibald Dennis Flower Writings EditWorks he authored were A Few Words about Bearing Reins 1875 1 Bits and Bearing Reins 1875 illustrated by John Paget 1 Horses and Harness 1876 1 The Stones of London or Macadam v Vestries 1880 1 References Edit a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Boase George Clement 1885 1900 Flower Edward Fordham Dictionary of National Biography vol 19 London Smith Elder amp Co Boase George Clement Flower Edward Fordham 1805 83 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography vol 19 Chicago Tribune 9 April 1883 p 4 retrieved 4 November 2017 Flower and Sons LTD Brewers of Stratford Upon Avon Bust of Shakespeare produced to advertise Flowers Ales Unknown V amp A Explore the Collections Black Beauty Analysis Shmoop Black Beauty 1994 the Bearing Rein Scene 7 10 Movieclips YouTube Bits and Bearing Reins By Edward Fordham Flower Second Edition Ridgway No 15 May 1875 the Spectator Archive Further reading EditJonathan Reinaez A Social History of a Midland Brewery Flower and Sons Brewery 1870 1914 Unpublished PhD thesis University of Warwick 1998 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edward Fordham Flower amp oldid 1175107354, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.