Joseph Terry

Who was Joseph Terry?

Sir Joseph Terry was an English industrialist.

Terry was born in Pocklington, England, and educated at St Peter's School, York. In 1854, he took over his father’s confectionery business, together with his two younger brothers.

In 1864 he expanded the business by building a steam-powered factory in York. Two years later there were 400 separate items in the firm’s price list, mostly chocolate products. The business was incorporated as Joseph Terry & Sons Ltd. in 1895, by which time it had over 300 employees.

In 1864, Terry married Frances, the daughter of Dr Joseph Goddard. They had three sons before she died in 1866. In 1871 he married Margaret, the daughter of William Thorpe of Aldborough House, Malton, Yorkshire, with whom he had a son and three daughters. His eldest son, Thomas, became a partner in the business in 1880.

Terry served as Sheriff of York in 1870, and was Lord Mayor of the city on four occasions. He was knighted in 1887. He died of heart failure at the Royal Station Hotel on 12 January 1898, and was buried at York Cemetery on 15 January 1898.