Henry Bright (18 January 1784 – 26 March 1869) was a British Whig politician, MP for Bristol 1820–1830.
Bright was born in Queen's Square, Bristol on 18 January 1784.[1] He was the oldest son of Richard Bright (1754–1840), a merchant and banker in Bristol, and Sarah née Heywood, and the older brother of the physician Richard Bright, who described Bright's disease.[2] His grandfather was Henry Bright (1715–1777), a Bristol merchant active in the Jamaican slave trade, Mayor of Bristol in 1771–72.[3]
Elected MP for Bristol in 1820 as a Whig in the West India Interest, Bright generally opposed the Tory government of Lord Liverpool. However, he was mindful of constituency considerations,[2] and in May 1820 supported the Western Union Canal bill as "eminently advantageous".[4]
The Slave Trade Act 1807 had outlawed the slave trade in the British Empire, but had not abolished slavery. The attitude of Bright's constituents in Bristol is characterised by an anonymous pamphlet letter addressed to Bright in 1823, which argued against the immediate abolition of slavery.[5] Bright was a member of the West India Committee, and of a committee formed in 1823 to resist moves towards emancipation.[6] He complained of "gross exaggerations" in the Southwark anti-slavery petition.[7] After the Slavery Abolition Act 1833, in 1836, Bright collected slave compensation for Edward Smith of the Haughton Pen Estate in Saint Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica.[6]
He was re-elected in 1826 but stood down in 1830, being "tired of it and the expense".[2]
He succeeded to his father's estates in Herefordshire and Hampshire in 1840, inheriting also a one-fifth share of the Jamaican property and a one-seventh share of the residue. Bright died on 26 March 1869.[2][1]
References
^ abc"Bright, Henry (BRT801H)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
^ abcde"BRIGHT, Henry (1784–1869)". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
^"Henry Bright of Bristol". University College London. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
^Bright, Henry (15 May 1820). "Western Union Canal Bill". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 1. United Kingdom: House of Commons. col. 345–347. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
^"An Appeal to Common Sense in behalf of Justice, Humanity, and Religion in a letter addressed to Henry Bright". 1823. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
^ ab"Henry Bright". University College London. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
^Bright, Henry (27 March 1823). "Abolition of Slavery". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 8. United Kingdom: House of Commons. col. 766–771. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
External links
Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Henry Bright
henry, bright, henry, bright, january, 1784, march, 1869, british, whig, politician, bristol, 1820, 1830, bright, born, queen, square, bristol, january, 1784, oldest, richard, bright, 1754, 1840, merchant, banker, bristol, sarah, née, heywood, older, brother, . Henry Bright 18 January 1784 26 March 1869 was a British Whig politician MP for Bristol 1820 1830 Bright was born in Queen s Square Bristol on 18 January 1784 1 He was the oldest son of Richard Bright 1754 1840 a merchant and banker in Bristol and Sarah nee Heywood and the older brother of the physician Richard Bright who described Bright s disease 2 His grandfather was Henry Bright 1715 1777 a Bristol merchant active in the Jamaican slave trade Mayor of Bristol in 1771 72 3 He was educated at Reading School and Peterhouse Cambridge admitted 1801 graduated B A 1807 M A 1810 and elected to a fellowship at Peterhouse in 1810 Admitted to Lincoln s Inn in 1804 he was called to the bar in 1810 1 practising as a barrister on the western circuit 2 Elected MP for Bristol in 1820 as a Whig in the West India Interest Bright generally opposed the Tory government of Lord Liverpool However he was mindful of constituency considerations 2 and in May 1820 supported the Western Union Canal bill as eminently advantageous 4 The Slave Trade Act 1807 had outlawed the slave trade in the British Empire but had not abolished slavery The attitude of Bright s constituents in Bristol is characterised by an anonymous pamphlet letter addressed to Bright in 1823 which argued against the immediate abolition of slavery 5 Bright was a member of the West India Committee and of a committee formed in 1823 to resist moves towards emancipation 6 He complained of gross exaggerations in the Southwark anti slavery petition 7 After the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 in 1836 Bright collected slave compensation for Edward Smith of the Haughton Pen Estate in Saint Elizabeth Parish Jamaica 6 He was re elected in 1826 but stood down in 1830 being tired of it and the expense 2 He succeeded to his father s estates in Herefordshire and Hampshire in 1840 inheriting also a one fifth share of the Jamaican property and a one seventh share of the residue Bright died on 26 March 1869 2 1 References Edit a b c Bright Henry BRT801H A Cambridge Alumni Database University of Cambridge a b c d e BRIGHT Henry 1784 1869 The History of Parliament Retrieved 25 August 2019 Henry Bright of Bristol University College London Retrieved 25 August 2019 Bright Henry 15 May 1820 Western Union Canal Bill Parliamentary Debates Hansard Vol 1 United Kingdom House of Commons col 345 347 Retrieved 25 August 2019 An Appeal to Common Sense in behalf of Justice Humanity and Religion in a letter addressed to Henry Bright 1823 Retrieved 25 August 2019 a b Henry Bright University College London Retrieved 25 August 2019 Bright Henry 27 March 1823 Abolition of Slavery Parliamentary Debates Hansard Vol 8 United Kingdom House of Commons col 766 771 Retrieved 25 August 2019 External links EditHansard 1803 2005 contributions in Parliament by Henry BrightParliament of the United KingdomPreceded byRichard Hart DavisEdward Protheroe Member of Parliament for Bristol1820 1830 With Richard Hart Davis Succeeded byRichard Hart DavisJames Evan Baillie Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henry Bright MP amp oldid 1081834314, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
