Lewis Haslam
Lewis Haslam (1856-1922), director of John Haslam and Co and the inventor of Aertex
1856 April 25th. Born the son of John Haslam of Gilnow House in Bolton in Lancashire.
He was educated at University College School and University College, London.
1876 Patent. ‘1859. To Lewis Haslam and Cornelius Marshall, both of Bolton, in the county of Lancaster, for the invention of "improvements in the construction of looms used for fancy weaving."’[1]
1885 Patent. ‘Lewis Haslam and Cornelius Marshall, both of Bolton, for improvements in apparatus for clearing yarn and thread’.[2]
1886 Patented a gauze material that later became known as Aertex.[3]
1889 Patent 16,553. 'Lewis Haslam and Cornelius Marshall, both of Bolton, for improvements in Looms for Crossweaving'[4]
In 1893 he married Helen Norma Dixon of Watlington, Oxfordshire.
Haslam was the director of cotton spinning and manufacturing companies. He has been classified as a genuinely second generation self-made man and was among the most wealthy MPs of his time.
He served as a Justice of the Peace for the county of Lancaster.
At the 1892 general election he contested the Westhoughton Division of Lancashire, in opposition to Lord Stanley reducing the Conservative majority by 500 votes. He does not appear to have been a candidate in 1895 but in 1900 he stood in Stamford in Lincolnshire, again without success.
He was eventually returned to the House of Commons at the 1906 Liberal landslide at Monmouth.
He was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament (MP) in Wales, representing Monmouth Boroughs from 1906 to 1918 and then Newport from 1918 until his death in 1922.
1911 Living at 8 Wilton Crescent, London: Lewis Haslam (age 55 born Ash, Lancashire), Director of Cotton Spinning and manufacturing Companies - Member of Parliament - Employer. With his wife Helen Norma Haslam (age 52 born Watlington, Oxon.) and their two daughters Helen Evelyn Vida Haslam (age 17 born London) and Lilian V. V. Haslam (age 13 born London). Also his nephew John Moore Dixon (age 20 born Silencio, Columbia). Seven servants.[5]
1922 September 11th. Died at Bignor park, Pulborough. Of 8 Wilton Crescent. Probate value at £521,454.