RP V - William Rathbone V. - 1803-1868
The papers of William Rathbone V (RP V) include correspondence, deeds, notes, newscuttings and printed material concerning both public and private interests of William Rathbone V, as well as a group of papers, primarily correspondence, of the Unitarian writer Joseph Blanco White, dating from 1803...
| Archive level description: | Series |
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| Physical Description: | 247 items |
| Summary: | The papers of William Rathbone V (RP V) include correspondence, deeds, notes, newscuttings and printed material concerning both public and private interests of William Rathbone V, as well as a group of papers, primarily correspondence, of the Unitarian writer Joseph Blanco White, dating from 1803-1868. The papers are arranged as:
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| Date: | 1803-1868 |
| Reference Number: | RP V |
| Biographical/Administrative Information: | William Rathbone V (1787-1868), social reformer and philanthropist, was the eldest son of William Rathbone IV and Hannah Mary (née Reynolds). He was a Liverpool merchant in partnership with Richard Rathbone, his brother and was elected a Liberal councillor for Liverpool in 1835 and Mayor of Liverpool in 1837. He was an active supporter of the Municipal Reform Act 1835, supported Kitty Wilkinson in establishing Liverpool public baths and wash-houses following the devastation of the cholera epidemic and was responsible for the distribution of New England Relief funds for the Irish famine 1846-1847.He married Elizabeth (1790-1882) daughter of Samuel Greg of Quarry Bank, Cheshire and Hannah (née Lightbody) in 1812 and had four children: Hannah Mary (later Thom), William Rathbone VI, Samuel Greg and Philip Henry. He died on 1 Feb 1868 at Greenbank, a much-loved figure in Liverpool public life with over 1000 mourners attending his funeral. Among his papers are some letters of Jospeh Blanco White (RP V.4): (1755-1841)- a theological writer born in Seville who adopted Unitarian views in later life and resided in Liverpool from 1835 until his death: a close friend of the Rathbones, he died at their family home, Greenbank, in May 1841. |