Joseph Chamberlain

The Right Honourable Joseph Chamberlain (8 July 1836–2 July 1914) was a British statesman. In his early years he was a successful businessman, a radically minded Liberal, a campaigner for educational reform and became President of the Board of Trade. Later he re-emerged in alliance with the Conservatives, as an imperialist and protectionist, serving as Colonial Secretary. Despite never becoming Prime Minister, he is regarded as one of the most important British politicians of the late 19th century and early 20th century, a colourful character and a renowned orator. He was the father of Sir Austen Chamberlain (1863 to 1937) and Neville Chamberlain (1869 to 1940).

Early Life, Business Career and Marriage

Chamberlain was born in Camberwell in London to a successful shoemaker and manufacturer also named Joseph (1796?1874). He was educated at University College School, Euston between 1850 and 1852, in which Chamberlain excelled academically, achieving prizes in French and mathematics. The elder Chamberlain was unable to send all his children into higher education, and at the age of 16, Joseph was apprenticed to the Cordwainers' Company and worked for the family business in the making of quality leather shoes. At 18 he was sent to Birmingham to join his uncle's screwmaking business, Nettlefolds (later part of Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds), in which his father had invested. In partnership with Joseph Nettlefold, Chamberlain was to help the screwmaking firm, soon known as Nettlefold and Chamberlain, to become a commercial success, and by 1874 when Chamberlain retired from the firm, the company was exporting its products to the United States, Europe, India, Japan, Canada and Australia. Furthermore, Nettlefold and Chamberlain produced approximately two-thirds of all the metal screws made in England.

Related Topics:
Camberwell - London - Shoemaker - Manufacturer - 1796 - 1874 - University College School - Euston - 1850 - 1852 - French - Mathematics - Cordwainers' Company - Birmingham - Screw - Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds - United States - Europe - India - Japan - Canada - Australia

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In 1860, Chamberlain met and fell in love with Harriet Kenrick, the daughter of a Unitarian family from Birmingham. In July 1861, the couple married and produced a daughter, Beatrice, in May 1862. In October 1863, having had a presentiment that she would die in childbirth, Harriet gave birth to a son, Joseph Austen, the future Chancellor of the Exchequer and Foreign Secretary. Two days after Austen's birth, Harriet became ill and died three days later. Gripped with grief, Chamberlain devoted himself to the growing fortunes of Nettlefold and Chamberlain, whilst raising Beatrice and Austen with the Kenrick parents-in-law.

Related Topics:
1860 - 1861 - 1862 - 1863 - Chancellor of the Exchequer - Foreign Secretary

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In 1868, Chamberlain married for the second time, wedding Harriet's cousin, Florence Kenrick. The marriage was as successful and joyous for Chamberlain as the first had been, producing four children: Arthur Neville, Prime Minister between 1937 and 1940, was born in 1869, Ida, born in 1870, Hilda, born in 1871 and Ethel, born in 1873. On 13th February 1875, Florence gave birth to their fifth child, yet by the next day, she and her child had died.

Related Topics:
1868 - 1875

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