J. Batty Langley
British politician (1834–1914)
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J. Batty Langley (20 March 1834 – 19 February 1914) was a British Liberal Party politician.
J. Batty Langley | |
|---|---|
| |
| Member of Parliament for Sheffield Attercliffe | |
| In office 1894–1909 | |
| Preceded by | Bernard Coleridge |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Pointer |
| President of the National Association of General Railway Clerks | |
| In office 1897–1898 | |
| Preceded by | New position |
| Succeeded by | W. D. Leaver |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 March 1834 Uppingham, England |
| Died | 19 February 1914 (aged 79) Bournemouth, England |
| Resting place | Sheffield General Cemetery, England |
| Party | Liberal Party |
He was born in Uppingham, Rutland, the son of Thomas Langley.[1] He moved to Sheffield in the 1850s, and in 1863 commenced business on his own account as a timber merchant and became proprietor of the Sheaf Saw Mills. He was one of the city's most prominent non-conformists, attending Queen Street Congregational Church. He was elected to Sheffield Town Council in 1871, serving many years and becoming an alderman in 1890.[2]
In 1892, Langley became Mayor of Sheffield, and saw an eventful year in office. Sheffield became a city, while Langley organised a conference in the city, aiming to settle the 1893 coal strike.[2]
Claiming to represent the interests of the working class, he was elected as the Member of Parliament at the 1894 Sheffield Attercliffe by-election. As an employer, he was a controversial choice, and the Independent Labour Party stood a candidate against him.[3] He was re-elected for Sheffield Attercliffe unopposed at the 1895 and 1900 general elections[4] but in 1906, the Conservative Arnold Muir Wilson stood.[5][6] Langley retained his Parliamentary seat until he retired in 1909, due to long-term ill health.[7]
Langley became the first president of the National Association of General Railway Clerks (now Transport Salaried Staffs' Association) in 1897,[8] although he resigned due to ill health the following year.[3]