J. Batty Langley

J. Batty Langley (1834 – 19 February 1914) was a British Liberal Party politician.

Born in Uppingham, Langley became a wealthy timber merchant in Sheffield, and one of the city's most prominent non-conformists. He was elected to Sheffield Town Council, serving many years and becoming an alderman.Michael Stenton and Stephen Lees, Who's Who of British MPs: Volume II, 1886-1918]

In 1892, Langley became Mayor of Sheffield, and saw an eventful year in office. Sheffield became a city, while Langley organised a conference in the city, aiming to settle the 1893 UK coal strike. Claiming to represent the interests of the working class, he was elected as the Member of Parliament at the Sheffield Attercliffe by-election, 1894. As an employer, he was a controversial choice, and the Independent Labour Party stood a candidate against him. [http://www.tssa.org.uk/about/single-or-return/chapter01.htm Single or Return - the official history of the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association] ]

Langley became the first President of the General Union of Railway Clerks in 1897, although he resigned due to ill health the following year. He retained his Parliamentary seat until he retired in 1909.

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