James Heald (1 March 1796 – 26 October 1873) was a Manchester banker, evangelical Methodist philanthropist, and single-term Member of Parliament, representing Stockport as a Peelite free trade Conservative from 1847 to 1852.
Born in Brinnington, near Stockport, Heald was brought up as a Methodist, but considered becoming an Anglican clergyman. Instead, he joined his father's calico printing business, later moving to Parrs Wood House. He led the foundation of a northern branch of the Theological Institution in Didsbury.[1][2]
Heald became a magistrate for both Lancashire and Cheshire, and also served as a deputy lieutenant of Cheshire. He stood in Stockport for the Conservative Party at the 1847 UK general election, winning a seat. Unusually for a Conservative, he supported free trade. He was opposed to Catholic clergy receiving endowments.[1]
Heald contested Stockport again at the 1852 UK general election, but was defeated. He then contested the December 1852 by-election in Oldham, but was again unsuccessful.[1] From 1861 until his death, he was the treasurer of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society. St Paul's Methodist Church, Didsbury was built in his memory.[2] Healdtown in South Africa is also named after him.[3]
- ^ a b c Stenton, Michael (1976). Who's Who of British Members of Parliament. Vol. 1. Hassocks: Harvester Press. p. 185. ISBN 0855272198.
- ^ a b "Heald, James, MP". A Dictionary of Methodism in Britain and Ireland. Methodist Publishing House. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- ^ Raper, Peter E. (1987). Dictionary of Southern African Place Names. Internet Archive. p. 201. Retrieved 28 August 2013.