23 Facts About Edward Watkin

Sir Edward William Watkin, 1st Baronet was a British Member of Parliament and railway entrepreneur.

Edward Watkin was an ambitious visionary, and presided over large-scale railway engineering projects to fulfil his business aspirations, eventually rising to become chairman of nine different British railway companies.

Watkin's father was closely involved in the Anti-Corn Law League, and Edward soon joined him, rising to become a key League organiser in Manchester.

From 1839 to 1840 Edward Watkin was one of the directors of the Manchester Athenaeum.

Edward Watkin took a prominent role in the Saturday Half-holiday Movement.

In 1845, Edward Watkin co-founded the Manchester Examiner, by which time he had become a partner in his father's business.

Edward Watkin then became assistant to Captain Mark Huish, general manager of the LNWR.

Edward Watkin visited USA and Canada and in 1852 he published a book about the railways in these countries.

Edward Watkin was knighted in 1868 and made a baronet in 1880.

Edward Watkin's grand vision was a transcontinental railway lying largely within Canada, but owing to the sparse population west of Lake Superior, the scheme could not be profitable in the absence of government financial backing.

In fact it was Edward Watkin who recommended Robert Cecil, who is credited with leading the GER out of its financial crisis.

Edward Watkin resigned as a director of the GER in August 1872.

Edward Watkin was skilled at public relations and attempted to garner political support for his project, inviting such high-profile guests as the Prince and Princess of Wales, Liberal Party Leader William Gladstone and the Archbishop of Canterbury to submarine champagne receptions in the tunnel.

Edward Watkin was first elected Liberal Member of Parliament for Great Yarmouth, and then Stockport.

Edward Watkin unsuccessfully contested the East Cheshire seat in 1869.

Edward Watkin was knighted in 1868 and became a baronet in 1880.

Edward Watkin increasingly moved away from the Liberal party under William Ewart Gladstone and in 1880 it was claimed that he had taken the Conservative whip.

Edward Watkin never stood for election as a Conservative and continued to sit with the Liberals.

Edward Watkin for his part insisted that he was a Liberal, albeit one who had moved away from the official party.

Edward Watkin lived at Rose Hill, a large house in Northenden, Manchester.

The family home was purchased by his father in 1832 and Edward Watkin inherited it upon his father's death in 1861.

Edward Watkin married Mary Briggs Mellor in 1845, with whom he had two children.

Edward Watkin died on 13 April 1901 and was buried in the family grave in the churchyard of St Wilfrid's, Northenden, where a memorial plaque commemorates his life.