Alfred Illingworth

Who was Alfred Illingworth?

Alfred Illingworth, was an English worsted spinner and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1868 and 1895.

Illingworth was born at Bradford, Yorkshire, the son of Daniel Illingworth and his wife Elizabeth Hill. He was educated at Huddersfield College and entered the family worsted spinning business of D Illingworth & Sons at the age of 16. In 1865, with his brother Henry, he established the Whetley Mills, one of the largest factories in Bradford. He was also a director of the Bradford District Bank. He had strong non-conformist and free trade views and entered into politics.

At the 1868 general election, Illingworth was elected MP for Knaresborough, but lost the seat in 1874. He was then elected at Bradford at the 1880 general election until the constituency was reorganised under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885. At the 1885 general election he was elected for Bradford West and held the seat until 1895.

Illingworth married Margaret Holden, daughter of Sir Isaac Holden, 1st Baronet in 1863 and his brother Henry married another daughter of Holden creating a strong alliance of two of the dominant Bradford families of the time.