Thomas Lea was born at The Larches, near Kidderminster, in 1841, the eldest son of George Butcher Lea. He came from a family which had manufactured Kidderminster stuff and bombazine in the 17th and 18th centuries. His ancestor Francis Lea with son John Lea went over to carpet weaving in 1781. When Francis retired from this firm, he and his second son Thomas Lea set up a worsted spinning business in Callows Lane, Kidderminster. Francis' daughter married William Butcher, and their son George Butcher later joined the firm. In 1831 George formed the firm of Butcher, Worth and Holmes to manufacture carpets. In 1835 Thomas gave his spinning business to his nephew George Butcher, who later took the name George Butcher Lea.[1]
Carpet business
George Butcher Lea withdrew from the carpet business in 1838, and his son Thomas grew up in the business and then took control of it. He then built Slingfield Mills at Kidderminster in 1864. He retired in favour of his sons (who formed a company) in 1892 (they later sold the company in 1920).[1]
Politics
Lea was chosen as the Liberal candidate for Kidderminster in 1868, only 27 years old, and won by a large margin. He held the seat until 1874, and later represented County Donegal from 1880 to 1885 and County Londonderry South from 1886 to 1900.[2] While in Ireland, Lea expressed hostility to the Irish language; he proposed an amendment to the draft of the second Home Rule Bill that would have prevented the passing of laws which would increase Irish language use in state schools, legal courts and other public spheres.[3] He was a Justice of the Peace. In 1892, he was created a baronet, of The Larches in Kidderminster in the County of Worcester and of Sea Grove in Dawlish in the County of Devon.
Family
Lea married, in 1864, Louisa Birch, daughter of William Birch, of Barton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire. They had two sons and a daughter. The eldest son, Sir Thomas Sydney Lea (1867-1946) succeeded as baronet, and was a barrister. The younger son, Rev. Percy Lea, was a priest.[2]
thomas, baronet, january, 1841, january, 1902, english, carpet, manufacturer, from, kidderminster, liberal, party, politician, contents, family, history, carpet, business, politics, family, references, external, linksfamily, history, editthomas, born, larches,. Sir Thomas Lea 1st Baronet 17 January 1841 9 January 1902 was an English carpet manufacturer from Kidderminster and a Liberal Party politician Contents 1 Family history 2 Carpet business 3 Politics 4 Family 5 References 6 External linksFamily history EditThomas Lea was born at The Larches near Kidderminster in 1841 the eldest son of George Butcher Lea He came from a family which had manufactured Kidderminster stuff and bombazine in the 17th and 18th centuries His ancestor Francis Lea with son John Lea went over to carpet weaving in 1781 When Francis retired from this firm he and his second son Thomas Lea set up a worsted spinning business in Callows Lane Kidderminster Francis daughter married William Butcher and their son George Butcher later joined the firm In 1831 George formed the firm of Butcher Worth and Holmes to manufacture carpets In 1835 Thomas gave his spinning business to his nephew George Butcher who later took the name George Butcher Lea 1 Carpet business EditGeorge Butcher Lea withdrew from the carpet business in 1838 and his son Thomas grew up in the business and then took control of it He then built Slingfield Mills at Kidderminster in 1864 He retired in favour of his sons who formed a company in 1892 they later sold the company in 1920 1 Politics EditLea was chosen as the Liberal candidate for Kidderminster in 1868 only 27 years old and won by a large margin He held the seat until 1874 and later represented County Donegal from 1880 to 1885 and County Londonderry South from 1886 to 1900 2 While in Ireland Lea expressed hostility to the Irish language he proposed an amendment to the draft of the second Home Rule Bill that would have prevented the passing of laws which would increase Irish language use in state schools legal courts and other public spheres 3 He was a Justice of the Peace In 1892 he was created a baronet of The Larches in Kidderminster in the County of Worcester and of Sea Grove in Dawlish in the County of Devon Family EditLea married in 1864 Louisa Birch daughter of William Birch of Barton under Needwood Staffordshire They had two sons and a daughter The eldest son Sir Thomas Sydney Lea 1867 1946 succeeded as baronet and was a barrister The younger son Rev Percy Lea was a priest 2 Lea died at Kidderminster on 9 January 1902 aged 60 2 References Edit a b Melvyn Thompson Woven in Kidderminster an illustrated history of the carpet industry in the Kidderminster area Kiddermister 2002 144 5 a b c Obituary Sir Thomas Lea The Times No 36661 London 10 January 1902 p 4 So what s the Irish for deja vu then Belfast Media Group Retrieved on 7 April 2018 Kidd Charles Williamson David editors Debrett s Peerage and Baronetage 1990 edition New York St Martin s Press 1990 Leigh Rayment s list of baronets Leigh Rayment s Historical List of MPsExternal links EditHansard 1803 2005 contributions in Parliament by Sir Thomas LeaParliament of the United KingdomPreceded byAlbert Grant Member of Parliament for Kidderminster1868 1874 Succeeded byAlbert GrantPreceded byMarquess of HamiltonWilliam Wilson Member of Parliament for County Donegal1879 1885 With Marquess of Hamilton 1879 1880John Kinnear 1880 1885 Constituency abolishedPreceded byTim Healy Member of Parliament for County Londonderry South1886 1900 Succeeded byJohn GordonBaronetage of the United KingdomNew creation Baronet of The Larches and Sea Grove 1892 1902 Succeeded byThomas Sydney Lea Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sir Thomas Lea 1st Baronet amp oldid 1111158269, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
