Joseph Woodhead

Joseph Woodhead (1824 - 21 May 1913) was an English newspaper proprietor and editor and a Liberal Party politician.

Woodhead was the youngest son of Godfrey Woodhead, a currier and leather merchant of Holmfirth. He was educated at private schools but grew up in a home where books and reading were valued. At fifteen he was apprenticed to a woollen manufacturer working all day and studying until late at night. He was a teetotaller and spoke at temperance meeting. In 1851 with a group of like-minded local Liberals he founded the Huddersfield Examiner newspaper[1] which was produced in a room over a shop in Kirkgate.[2] He made it into a leading exponent of non-conformist liberalism and in 1871 it became a daily evening paper.[3] Woodhead also established the Dewsbury Reporter.[4] In 1868, he was elected to Huddersfield Town Council and became an Alderman of Huddersfield and was twice Mayor of Huddersfield in 1876 and 1877.[5] Huddersfield Town Hall, known as a concert venue, was sited opposite his newspaper offices and in 1885 he was president of the Glee and Madrigal Society - now the Huddersfield Singers.[6] He was also a J. P. [7]

At the 1885 general election Woodhead was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Spen Valley. He held the seat until 1892.[8] He is said to have turned down a baronetcy as he had no wish to be known as other than Joe Woodhead.[9] In 1898 he was awarded Freedom of the City of Huddersfield.

In the 1891 Census of Huddersfield Woodhead is listed as a 66-year-old Newspaper proprietor, Justice of the Peace and Member of Parliament living at Longdenholme, West Hill, Huddersfield with his four sons.[10]

Woodhead lived at Longdenholme, Huddersfield and at Preswylfa, Conway. He died in Huddersfield at the age of 89.[11]

Woodhead married Catherine Woodhead in 1853. Their son Sir German Sims Woodhead became an eminent pathologist.[12] Another son Ernest Woodhead played rugby for England.

References
  1. Open Writing - Old Joe Woodhead
  2. The Huddersfield Daily Examiner Our back pages 16 May 2005 Archived 25 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Alan J Lee The Origins of the Popular Press in England: 1855-1914 1976
  4. Huddersfield One Archived 18 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Kirklees Council - Huddersfield Mayors Archived 4 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  6. Huddersfield Singers 125th Anniversary
  7. Debretts Guide to the House of Commons 1886
  8. "Leigh Rayment". Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
  9. Open Writing - Old Joe Woodhead
  10. 1901 Census RG12/3568 Folio 87, Page 37, Schedule 221: Huddersfield Municipal Borough - Longdenholme, West Hill, Huddersfield (Names and Surname: Joseph Woodhead, Relation to Head of Family: Head, Condition of Marriage: M, Age last Birthday: 66, Profession or Occupation: Newspaper Proprietor & Editor J P M P, Where Born: Holmfirth, Yorkshire)
  11. General Register Office index of deaths registered in April, May, June, 1913 - Name: Woodhead, Joseph Age: 89 District: Huddersfield Volume: 9A Page: 424.
  12. Huddersfield Titled Classes
Parliament of the United Kingdom
New constituency Member of Parliament for Spen Valley
1885 – 1892		 Succeeded by
Thomas Whittaker
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