Joseph Butterworth

English law bookseller and politician.

Son of the Rev. John Butterworth, a Baptist minister in Coventry, where he was born. At an early age he went to London, where he learned the law book trade, and founded a large and lucrative establishment in Fleet Street, in which his nephew Henry Butterworth later worked.

Butterworth's house became a resort of the leading philanthropists of the day. There Lord Liverpool, John Shore, 1st Baron Teignmouth, William Wilberforce and Zachary Macaulay had discussions, and the first meetings of the British and Foreign Bible Society were held. Butterworth liberally supported many philanthropic and Christian institutions.

He was M.P. for Coventry from 1812 to 1818, and for Dover from 1820 to 1826, and gave independent support to the government of the day. He was a broad-minded Wesleyan, and in August 1819 was appointed general treasurer of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, a post he retained until his death. He died at his house in Bedford Square, London, 30 June 1826, aged 56.

History of Parliament

Family and Education

b. 1770, 3rd s. of Rev. John Butterworth (d. 1803), Baptist minister, of Jordan’s Well and Cow Lane, Coventry, Warws. and 2nd w. Ann née Heap (d. 1808). educ. by his fa.; Coventry free sch. m. 13 Oct. 1791, Anne, da. of John Cooke, clothier, of Trowbridge, Wilts., 1s. d. 30 June 1826.

COVENTRY 1812 - 1818

DOVER 1820 - 1826

See memorial - https://www.wesleysheritage.org.uk/object/photograph-of-the-monumen...