John Passmore Edwards

John Passmore Edwards (March 24 1823 - April 22, 1911)ODNB article by A. J. A. Morris, ‘Edwards, John Passmore (1823–1911)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, May 2006 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/32981] , accessed 15 Nov 2007.] was a Victorian journalist, newspaper owner and philanthropist. He was born in Blackwater, a small village, situated between Redruth and Truro, in Cornwall, the son of a carpenter.

Biography

His mother's maiden name was Passmore and she originated from Newton Abbot, Devon.

He became the Manchester representative of London "Sentinel" , a weekly newspaper, opposed to the Corn Law . He was a Liberal Member of Parliament for Salisbury,

He became the editor of a leading London newspaper "The London Echo" which he had bought in 1876. His publishing ventures had been failures for a time, but his 1862 purchase of "Building News" lead to profitability, this was followed by "Mechanics Magazine" and a share in the daily "Echo". He eventually sold two thirds of his share in the "London Echo" to Andrew Carnegie to follow a political and social agenda. However, they disagreed and he bought it back and restored his editor in 1886. The paper closed in 1905 .

He was a delegate to peace congresses in Brussels, Paris, and Frankfort (from 1848 to 1850). He stood as an Independent candidate for Truro in the General Election of 1868. He didn't win this seat but in 1880 he gained the parliamentary seat of Salisbury. However, he soon became a bit sceptical about the quality of professional politics and the inability of politicians to effectively represent the interests of their constituents. He twice refused knighthood, and his opposition to the Boer War made him somewhat unpopular.

Philanthropy

A life-long champion of the working classes, Passmore Edwards is remembered as a generous benefactor. Over the space of 14 years, 70 major buildings were established as a direct result of his bequests. These included hospitals, 11 drinking fountains, 32 marble busts, 24 libraries , schools, convalescence homes and art galleries and the Passmore Edwards Settlement in Tavistock Place. He was also a generous donor to the Workers' Educational Association .

Legacy

Many of the buildings that he paid for are still in use for their original purpose. A bust of Passmore Edwards by Sir George Frampton was rescued from the basement of Hoxton Library and unveiled in May 2007 at the Passmore Edwards Library in St. Ives, Cornwall ["West Briton", 15 November 2007, Page 43: Letter from the Head of Cornwall County Library service, Chris Ramsey " Library Honours philanthropist".] .

He gave the public library buildings at Bodmin, Camborne, Falmouth, Launceston, Liskeard, Penzance, Redruth, St Ives and Truro [ [http://www.cornwall-calling.co.uk/famous-cornish-people/passmore-edwards.htm Cornwall Calling website - List of famous people (accessed 17 November 2007).] This site notes many other buildings in Cornwall, due to J.Passmore Edwards' benefaction.] .

Gallery

External links

* [http://www.passmoreedwards.org.uk/ John Passmore Edwards 1823-1911 His life and Philanthropic works]
* [http://www.jewishquarterly.org/article.asp?articleid=76 Whitechapel Ghosts] from Jewish Quarterly.
* [http://www.hayle-pei.org.uk/ Passmore Edwards Institute in Hayle, Cornwall - Website - includes portrait (accessed 17 November 2007)] .

References

*Baynes, Peter "John Passmore Edwards 1823-1911: An Account of His Life and Works", PA Baynes (1995) ISBN 0-9526231-0-2
*Best, R. S. "The life and good works of John Passmore Edwards", with pen and ink illustrations by C. M. Pellow and a list of Buildings, sponsored by Edwards, their architects and opening dates, with an appendix on the architect Silvanus Trevail, [(1851-1903), who designed nine of them. Dyllansow Truran (1982) ISBN 0-907566-18-9
*Burrage, E H "J Passmore Edwards, philanthropist" (1902)
*Edwards, J P "A few footprints" (1906)
*MacDonald, J J "Passmore Edwards Institutions", Strand Newspaper Company (1900)

###@@@KEY@@@###succession box
title = Member of Parliament for Salisbury
2-seat constituency
with William Grenfell (1880-1882)
Coleridge John Kennard (1882-1885)
years = 1880–1885
before = Granville Richard Ryder
John Alfred Lush
after = William Grenfell