Caleb Wright


Caleb Wright was an English mill owner and Liberal politician in Lancashire, north-west England.

Family and chapel

Wright was one of thirteen children of William Wright, bookmaker of Tyldesley, near Manchester. The only education he received was by attending night schools. Wright, a Unitarian, was a member of the congregation at Chowbent Chapel where he succeeded his father as organist in 1832. Wright played the trombone but learned to play the organ in a month so he could replace his father. In 1890 Wright donated a site for Chowbent Sunday school next to the chapel.
When Wright was in London he attended Bedford Chapel in Bloomsbury where Stopford Brooke was minister.

Cotton

At the age of nine Wright began work as a "piecer" in a local cotton mill. At the age of 15 he became a spinner and rose to become manager of the mill in 1830. In 1841 he became manager of Ormerod and Hardcastles Mill in Bolton.
In 1845 he established his own cotton-spinning business in Tyldesley in partnership with Henry Barton. In 1855 the partnership was dissolved, and Caleb Wright and Company's Barnfield Mills was established. He retired from the company in about 1876.

Politics

Aware of his own beginnings, Wright was sympathetic with the workers, he promoted education, self-improvement and the temperance movement. In his home town he was president of the local Mechanics' Institute, campaigned to build the public baths and supported the Ten-Hours Movement to reduce working hours in factories. Wright became involved in Liberal politics, and became chairman of Tyldesley Local Board.
At the 1885 general election Caleb Wright was invited to stand as the candidate for the newly created Leigh division by the Liberal party. His Tory opponent was Lees Knowles who polled 3,725 votes as against 4,261 for Wright. He was elected as the first member of parliament for the new constituency of Leigh. He was re-elected at the next two general elections, before retiring from parliament in 1895. Politically Wright was an advanced radical, and supported both Home Rule for Ireland and women's suffrage. He was also a member of the Liberation Society which sought the disestablishment of the Church of England.
Wright, "Owd Caleb", died at his home, Lower Oak, in Shakerley, Tyldesley in 1898 aged 87. He is buried at Chowbent Chapel.