William Beamont

For other people named William Beamont, see William Beamont (disambiguation).

William Beamont (1797–1889) was a Victorian solicitor and local philanthropist, living in the town of Warrington, in the north-west of England.

He was the first mayor of Warrington after its incorporation as a municipal borough in 1847. As mayor, he founded its municipal library, the first rate-aided library in the UK, in 1848. He travelled extensively, including in the Holy Land, where he met William Holman Hunt. His diaries, stored in the town's main library, are a valuable source of social history. For many years he lived at Orford Hall. Beamont was a Member of the Chetham Society, and served as Member of Council (1849–82) and Vice-President (1879–82).[1]

A high school (Beamont Collegiate Academy) and a primary school in the town are named after him.

William Beamont outlived his only son William John Beamont, who was a clergyman and author.

His grave lies in the churchyard of Christ Church, Padgate, one of several Church of England churches that he helped found.

References

  1. ↑ "Chetham Society: Officers and Council" (PDF). Chetham Society. 2015-11-04. Retrieved 2016-03-28.


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