Jacob Henry Tillett

Who was Jacob Henry Tillett?

Jacob Henry Tillett was an English Liberal Party politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1870 and 1885.

Tillet was born in Norwich, the son of Jacob Tillett and his wife Elizabeth Towler. He became a solicitor in 1839 and was the political leader of non-conformity and liberalism in Norwich. He was a lay preacher and trustee of New Catton Sunday School. In 1845 he was one of the founders of Norfolk News with Jeremiah Colman, John Copeman, Thomas Jarrold and Joseph Massingham. He became guardian of Massingham's son Henry William Massingham. Tillett was acquainted with leading liberals including Richard Cobden, Bright and John Morley. Tillet was clerk to the Commissioners of Income Tax and an alderman of Norwich. He campaigned against corruption, setting up a vigilance committee. As mayor in 1859 he exposed attempts to bribe a councillor to elect aldermen. A Conservative councillor noted for that for the first time an election was held in Norwich without drunkenness corruption and bribery. However Tillett himself was embarrassed by electoral difficulties when he stood for parliament.