Arthur Markham

Infobox Person
name = Sir Arthur Basil Markham


image_size = 240px
caption = Arthur Markham holding his baby daughter, Joyous, in 1903
birth_date = 1866
birth_place = Brimington, Derbyshire
death_date = 1916
death_place = Newstead Abbey
religion =
spouse =

Sir Arthur Basil Markham, 1st Baronet (1866–1916) was a British industrialist.

Biography

Markham was born on 25 August 1866 at Brimington Hall in Brimington, near Chesterfield. [http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Sir_Arthur_Basil_Markham Encyopedia Brittanica] , 1911, accessed 22 August 2008] He was the son of Charles Markham who was part owner of the family coal mine, Markham Main Colliery, in Chesterfield. [http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/library/special/markham.html Arthur Markham Memorial Prize Essays] , Sheffield University, accessed 22 August 2008] On his mother's side he was the grandson of Sir Joseph Paxton, designer of The Great Exhibition's Crystal Palace. He was educated at Rugby School.

Markham served from 1900 to 1916 [Page 17, Markham & Company of Chesterfield. by K.Wort, M.Bennett, ISBN 1-898937-64-8] served as Liberal M.P. for the Mansfield Division of Nottinghamshire. He was created a baronet, Markham of Arusha, East Africa, on 10 July 1911. Arthur Markham's technical skill, commercial insight and courage helped the development of considerable parts of the English and Welsh coalfields. He managed and owned a number of other coalmines, and there are many villages, businesses, streets and areas in Wales, Derbyshire and South Yorkshire bearing the name Markham. His brother was Charles Paxton Markham owner of Markham & Co. Engineering of Chesterfield. The firm was one of largest suppliers of coal mine winders. His Brother was also director of Staveley Coal and Iron Company. His niece Violet Markham also stood as a Independent Liberal for the Mansfield Division of Nottinghamshire in the 1918 general election.

Markham died on 5 August 1916 at Newstead Abbey near Mansfield.

Legacy

On his death, his eldest son, Charles, became the 2nd Baronet Markham of Arusha, East Africa. [http://stuffynwood.com/markham_sh.htm Markham family photographs] , accessed 22 August 2008]

After his death, his sister Violet, arranged for an annual competion to be held in memory of her brother. The Arthur Markham Memorial Fund was used to give a prize for the best essay written by a manual worker on a subject chosen for that year. The competition had been chosen as both Markhan's (Violet and Arthur) believed that there was untapped intelligence that needed to be rewarded.

References