James Cropper
James Cropper ( -1841), of Liverpool, a successful merchant in the East India trade.
Cropper came from Winstanley, near Wigan.
He began his commercial career as an apprentice under William Rathbone, another Quaker, in 1790. Rathbone, Benson and Co was among the first to import American cotton into Liverpool, and became a great success story.
Cropper was obviously a promising youth, for after five years he was admitted as a partner, and only two years later felt able to set up in business on his own.
In 1799 he went into partnership with Thomas Benson to form the successful firm of Cropper, Benson and Co, which occupied the rest of his working life. He succeeded in building the firm up without having to sell off any family land, yet was able to build a pocket stately home, Dingle Bank, to the south of Liverpool while retaining Fearnhead for a characteristically philanthropic project.
1824 Advert: 'This day was published, In 7vo. 2s. 6d. stitched, THE CORRESPONDENCE between JOHN GLADSTONE, M.P. and JAMES CROPPER, Esq. on the PRESENT STATE of SLAVERY, in the British West Indies and in the United States of America; and on the Importation of Sugar from the British Settlements in India. With an Appendix, containing several Papers on the Subject of Slavery. Printed for the West India Association, Liverpool; and sold by Hatchard and Son, and Longman and Co. London. [1]
Cropper continued for some forty years in the anti-slavery campaign
In October 1828 Cropper was one of a delegation sent to Darlington to investigate the relative merits of horse and locomotive haulage for the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, and on his return he submitted to the board a report advocating the use of stationary engines. This caused him to become an adversary to George Stephenson on this issue.
Cropper died in 1841
1840 Obituary
'THE LATE JAMES CROPPER.
James Cropper was born at Winstanley, in this county, in the year 1773, and was, therefore, in his 67th year. He came to Liverpool, and was for several years in the house of Rathbone and Benson. With the latter of those gentleman he entered into partnership, and his talent, industry, and integrity raised the house of Cropper, Benson, and Co. to a well-deserved eminence among the merchants of the world. His enlarged views of commerce caused him to enter warmly into the important questions of the opening of the trade with the East Indies and with China. On both of these questions he exerted himself much, and very materially aided the accomplishment of those great objects; thus conferring a benefit not only upon the town, but upon the country at large.
After some years of the successful pursuit of commerce, James Cropper retired with a handsome property, whilst yet in the meridian and vigour of life, and devoted his time, his talents, and his fortune to the good of his fellow-men. His labours, to this end, in various ways, entitled him to a conspicuous place in the very first rank among the benefactors of the human race. His exertions for the abolition of slavery and the slave trade were great, and he travelled much, both in England and Ireland, to promote this great object. After a large portion of his time and his energies had been for several years given up to the service of that deeply-injured class of his fellow-men, he at length witnessed the passing of the act for the abolition of slavery in our colonies, and he then felt himself at liberty to pursue another benevolent work which had long been near to his heart. Accordingly, on the day on which that act came into operation was laid the first stone of an institution for the training of orphan boys to habits of industry, with a view to their labour contributing to their support: instruction of various kinds being also given, and especial regard being always had to their growth in religious knowledge.
He then retired from the more conspicuous labours of philanthropy, in which he had formerly been engaged. He diligently watched over the spiritual and temporal welfare of those whom he had thus taken under his care. This school, thus carried on under his own superintendence, and at his own expense, upon his estate at Fernhead, near Warrington, was one among the many plans for improving the condition of the poor, which, at various periods, engaged his attention; and he wished, by this example, and by this practical demonstration of the advantages of such schools, to encourage the establishment of them in other places. In the pursuit of these objects, as well as in advocating those questions which, to common observation, would appear merely commercial, his religious impressions led him to adopt that course which had for its end and aim, not the temporal advantage merely, but also the spiritual benefit of the great human family. He was a member of the Society of Friends, and a warm advocate for the support of its principles, exhibiting, by his own example, a striking instance of that simplicity and moderation (even amongst large possessions) which is enjoined by the tenets of that society, and often recommending the same to his friends. He was a man given to hospitality: to the poor his generosity and liberality were great ; and, to the support of benevolent and charitable plans for the good of his fellow men, he often devoted larger sums of money.
He had been in declining health for some time, but his last illness was short, being attacked on the morning of Wednesday last with an apoplectic seizure. His decease took place on the evening of that day, at his home, at Fearnhead, near Warrington.'[2]