John James Mellor

Who was John James Mellor?

Colonel John James Mellor was a British industrialist and Conservative politician.

He was born in Oldham, Lancashire, and was educated privately. He entered business as a cotton manufacturer and became chairman of J & J J Mellor Limited of Bury and Brook Mills Limited of Heywood. He was also involved in railway administration, and was a director of the Metropolitan Railway and the South Eastern Railway.

For twenty-seven years he held a commission in the Volunteer Force, retiring as honorary colonel of the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers.

In 1892 he stood as Conservative candidate for the Radcliffe cum Farnworth constituency, but failed to be elected. Robert Leake, the sitting Liberal MP stood down at the next general election in 1895. Mellor was again selected as Conservative candidate, and was elected as member of parliament, benefitting from both a large swing to the Conservatives and the fact that Leake had a large personal vote.

Mellor was only in the Commons for five years, deciding not to stand again. At the 1900 general election Radcliffe cum Farnworth was regained by the Liberals.

Apart from his business and political activities, Mellor took an interest in science and engineering, and was a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society for nearly sixty years.