Rowland Hill Berkeley
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(aged 55–56)Rowland Hill Berkeley | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1849 |
| Died | 13 April 1905 (aged 55–56) |
| Occupation | Politician, grocer, fabricator |
| Children | Elsie Ann Berkeley |
| Position held | Lord Mayor of Birmingham (1904–1905) |
Rowland Hill Berkeley, J.P. (1849-1905) was an English grocery merchant, factory owner and Liberal Unionist politician, who served as Lord Mayor of Birmingham, dying in office.
Berkeley was born in late 1849 in Handsworth (then a village in Staffordshire, now a suburb of Birmingham),[1] to Ann (née Hill) and John Berkeley, a coal dealer, both from Worcestershire.
He apprenticed as a grocer in Ashted Row, Birmingham, then set up his own grocery business, eventually operating throughout the city and neighbouring towns of West Bromwich and Walsall.[1] He took up several directorships, including of Birmingham's Grand Hotel.[1] He also owned the metal toy factory previously operated by Messrs. Hull and Collett.[1]
He held a patent, for "Improvements in coal tongs, ice tongs, sugar tongs, fire iron tongs, and other like tongs"[2] and petitioned for another, for the invention of "A new or improved hydraulic apparatus for drawing corks."[3][4]
Politics
Berkeley served on Birmingham City Council, being elected unopposed to Duddeston ward for the Liberal Unionist Party on 21 November 1892,[1][5] having earlier served as chair of the Duddeston Ward Liberal Unionist Association.[6] He served on the council's Gas Committee and chaired its Lunatic Asylum Commission of Visitors.[1] In the latter role, he was instrumental in the creation of Hollymoor Lunatic Asylum[1] — its official opening was postponed due to his death.[7] He was appointed Lord Mayor in 1904.[1]
He was also Birmingham's chief magistrate.[1]
Death
During the afternoon of 13 April 1905, Berkeley — a man generally in good health — complained of feeling unwell. He nonetheless continued to work, then attended the induction of a new rector, Denton Thompson, at St Martin in the Bull Ring with his wife and one daughter.[1] He died at his home at 93, Harborne Road, Birmingham,[8][a] that evening from "apoplexy" (now known as a haemorrhagic stroke), within minutes of collapsing.[1][7][10] His dinner guests at the time included Edmund Whitcombe, superintendent of the Birmingham City Asylum, and the Berkeley's family physician and next-door neighbour, Dr Huxley, who despite their efforts were unable to revive him.[1][7] On the evidence of these two medical men, the city coroner decided that no inquest would be necessary.[1][7]
A commemorative service was subsequently held at the non-conformist Carr's Lane Chapel, where Berkeley had worshipped.[10]
Obituaries were published in local newspapers, and in The Journal of Gas Lighting, Water Supply & Sanitary Improvement.[11]
Former Lord Mayor Charles Gabriel Beale was returned to the post for what should have been the remainder of Berkeley's tenure.