John Derby Allcroft

Who was John Derby Allcroft?

John Derby Allcroft was an English philanthropic entrepreneur and Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1878 to 1880.

Allcroft was the only son of Jeremiah Macklin Allcroft, merchant of Worcester and his wife Hannah Derby, daughter of Thomas Derby and niece of William Derby. His father was in partnership with glovemakers J W Dent & Co in a very successful business. Allcroft began in his father's glovemaking business and in 1867 was able to buy the Stokesay Castle estate in Shropshire. In 1865, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society but contributed no papers. He was a Commissioner of Lieutenancy for the City of London, Lord of the Manors of Onibury and Stokesay and patron of five livings. He was considered an eminent philanthropist, and was Treasurer and a Governor of Christ's Hospital. In 1874 he purchased a smaller estate a Stone House Worcestershire. Allcroft was also J.P. for Shropshire.

Allcroft stood unsuccessfully for parliament at Worcester in 1874. He was elected Member of Parliament for Worcester at a by election in 1878 but lost the seat in the 1880 general election.