Elkanah Armitage
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Elkanah Armitage | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 6 September 1794 |
| Died | 26 November 1876 (aged 82) |
| Known for | British industrialist and Liberal politician |
Sir Elkanah Armitage DL (6 September 1794 – 26 November 1876) was a British industrialist and Liberal politician.
He was born the third of six sons of Elkanah Armitage, a farmer and linen weaver from Failsworth, Lancashire.[1] He left school at the age of 8 and went to work in the cotton industry, along with two of his brothers, at George Nadin & Nephews and soon rose to become manager on account of his diligence and growing shrewdness in business.[2]
Personal life
In 1816 he married Mary Lomax Bowers.[1] She died in 1836 having borne him eight children; Elkanah, Benjamin, Samuel, Joseph, John, Rebecca, Jane Ann and Mary Bowers. Armitage then married Elizabeth Kirk, daughter of Captain Henry Kirk of Chapel-en-le-Frith[1] and had one further son Vernon. Elizabeth died on 27 July 1868.
Armitage lived at Gore Hill, Pendleton Green until 1853 when he purchased Hope Hall, Pendleton, Salford.[3]
Industrial career
In the 1810s Armitage and his first wife set up in business as drapers at 18 Chapel Street, Salford, then sometime shortly after 1822 he set up a weaving manufacture business with James Thompson and by 1829 he was employing 29 workers and selling his cloths in Manchester at considerable profit. The business was so successful that he was able to build a new factory at Pendleton, Salford and eventually employed 200 people making sailcloth, ginghams and checks. By 1848, despite economic slumps he had extended Pendleton New Mill and was employing over 600. In 1867 the Armitages took over the Nassau Mills in Patricroft, Eccles.[2]
