Sir Thomas Royden, 1st Baronet

Who was Sir Thomas Royden, 1st Baronet?

Sir Thomas Bland Royden, 1st Baronet was an English shipowner and Conservative Party politician.

Royden was the son of Thomas Royden of Liverpool. He was educated at Liverpool College and became head of Thomas Royden & Sons, shipowners. He became a member of Liverpool City Council in 1873, and was Mayor of Liverpool in 1878-1879. He was also a J.P. for Liverpool.

At the 1885 general election Royden was elected Member of Parliament for Liverpool West Toxteth and held the seat until he stood down at the 1892 general election. He was High Sheriff of Cheshire in 1903, was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Cheshire at the end of the year, and was created a Baronet on 29 July 1905.

Royden lived at Frankby Hall. He died at the age of 85.

Royden married Alice Elizabeth Dowdall. Their son Thomas Royden was later MP for Bootle and became Lord Royden. Their daughter Maude Royden became a preacher and suffragist.