Wood was the son of Ottiwell Wood (1759–1847), a Manchester fustian manufacturer and Unitarian, and his wife Grace Grundy. He was baptised at Mosley Street Unitarian Chapel, Manchester, on 19 November 1789.[1]
Intended for the Unitarian ministry, Wood entered the University of Glasgow in 1806, but left without taking a degree in 1808, and went into business in Liverpool. He joined William Corrie, son of Edgar Corrie, who soon went into partnership with his brother Edgar Corrie the younger, and trading as William and Edgar Corrie.[1][2]
Wood then embarked on a legal career, entering the Inner Temple in 1820, and was called to the bar in 1825, practising as a barrister on the northern circuit.[1]
Political career
Standing for election as a Whig in Preston in 1826, Wood was elected alongside Edward Smith-Stanley (the future Earl of Derby and three-time prime minister), defeating the Radical William Cobbett and the anti-Catholic candidate Robert Smith Barrie.[1]
Wood consistently supported the Whig/Radical opposition, effectively led by Joseph Hume. As a dissenter, he supported religious liberty, advocating repeal of the Test Acts in 1827 and 1828, and supporting Catholic emancipation, which passed as the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829.[1]
In the 1830 Wood and Smith-Stanley overcame a challenge by the Radical Henry Hunt, but in the by-election following Smith-Stanley's appointment as Chief Secretary for Ireland (in which only Smith-Stanley's seat, not Wood's, was contested), Hunt defeated Smith-Stanley. Wood and Hunt were re-elected unopposed in 1831. Wood stood down at the election of 1832.[1]
Later career
He served as Recorder of York 1832–1833, Chairman of the Board of Stamps and Taxes 1833–1838, Chairman of the Board of Revenue 1838–1849, and Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue from 1849 until his death.[1]
He was active in the management of University College London, where he was a member of the council from 1835, and chaired the management committee 1845–1856.[1]
On 9 December 1828, Wood married Elizabeth Serjeantson, daughter of Rev. James Serjeantson, rector of Kirkby Knowle, Yorkshire. They had two daughters.[1]
References
^ abcdefghij"WOOD, John (1789-1856), of Edge Hill, Liverpool, Lancs.; Scoreby, Yorks. and Tanfield Court, Inner Temple, Mdx". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
^Ellison, Thomas (1886). The Cotton Trade of Great Britain: Including a History of the Liverpool Cotton Market and of the Liverpool Cotton Brokers' Association. E. Wilson. p. 225.
External links
Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by John Wood
john, wood, preston, john, wood, november, 1789, october, 1856, british, whig, politician, preston, 1826, 1832, contents, early, life, political, career, later, career, family, references, external, linksearly, life, editwood, ottiwell, wood, 1759, 1847, manch. John Wood 4 November 1789 10 October 1856 was a British Whig politician MP for Preston 1826 1832 Contents 1 Early life 2 Political career 3 Later career 4 Family 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditWood was the son of Ottiwell Wood 1759 1847 a Manchester fustian manufacturer and Unitarian and his wife Grace Grundy He was baptised at Mosley Street Unitarian Chapel Manchester on 19 November 1789 1 Intended for the Unitarian ministry Wood entered the University of Glasgow in 1806 but left without taking a degree in 1808 and went into business in Liverpool He joined William Corrie son of Edgar Corrie who soon went into partnership with his brother Edgar Corrie the younger and trading as William and Edgar Corrie 1 2 Wood then embarked on a legal career entering the Inner Temple in 1820 and was called to the bar in 1825 practising as a barrister on the northern circuit 1 Political career EditStanding for election as a Whig in Preston in 1826 Wood was elected alongside Edward Smith Stanley the future Earl of Derby and three time prime minister defeating the Radical William Cobbett and the anti Catholic candidate Robert Smith Barrie 1 Wood consistently supported the Whig Radical opposition effectively led by Joseph Hume As a dissenter he supported religious liberty advocating repeal of the Test Acts in 1827 and 1828 and supporting Catholic emancipation which passed as the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 1 In the 1830 Wood and Smith Stanley overcame a challenge by the Radical Henry Hunt but in the by election following Smith Stanley s appointment as Chief Secretary for Ireland in which only Smith Stanley s seat not Wood s was contested Hunt defeated Smith Stanley Wood and Hunt were re elected unopposed in 1831 Wood stood down at the election of 1832 1 Later career EditHe served as Recorder of York 1832 1833 Chairman of the Board of Stamps and Taxes 1833 1838 Chairman of the Board of Revenue 1838 1849 and Chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue from 1849 until his death 1 He was active in the management of University College London where he was a member of the council from 1835 and chaired the management committee 1845 1856 1 He died in Bath in 1856 1 Family EditOn 9 December 1828 Wood married Elizabeth Serjeantson daughter of Rev James Serjeantson rector of Kirkby Knowle Yorkshire They had two daughters 1 References Edit a b c d e f g h i j WOOD John 1789 1856 of Edge Hill Liverpool Lancs Scoreby Yorks and Tanfield Court Inner Temple Mdx The History of Parliament Retrieved 28 January 2020 Ellison Thomas 1886 The Cotton Trade of Great Britain Including a History of the Liverpool Cotton Market and of the Liverpool Cotton Brokers Association E Wilson p 225 External links EditHansard 1803 2005 contributions in Parliament by John WoodParliament of the United KingdomPreceded byEdmund HornbySamuel Horrocks Member of Parliament for Preston1826 1832 With Edward Smith StanleyHenry Hunt Succeeded byPeter Hesketh FleetwoodHenry Smith Stanley Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Wood MP for Preston amp oldid 1098830204, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
