William Westley Richards
William Westley Richards, often known as Westley Richards, (1785-1865), gun maker, jeweller and silversmith.
1785 Born in Edgbaston, son of Theophilus Richards, a gun maker and owner of a toyshop on Birmingham High Street, and his wife Mary.
1812 Went into business at 82 High Street, where both his father and grandfather had owned a toy shop - see Westley Richards and Co
1813 Married Ann Barlow by whom he had 6 children.
1813 William Westley played a large part in establishing the Gun Barrel Proof House in Birmingham
1814 A silversmith; birth of son Westley[1]
1818 Birth of a son Edward Harding Richards to William Westley Richards and his wife Ann but Edward died the following year[2]
1821 Entered the first of nine patents
1823 Married Harriett Seale in London
1823 A silversmith; birth of sons Charles and George Seale Richards [3]
1832 Dissolution of the Partnership between William Westley Richards and Henry Edwards in the businesses of Silversmiths, Jewellers, Cutlers; &c. at Birmingham; the trades were to be carried on by Mr. Edwards[4]
1840 Royal Warrant as gunmaker to Prince Albert.
1841 Westley Richards 50, a gun maker, living in Edgbaston, with Charles Richards 15, George Richards 15, William Richards 10[5]
1849 Chairman of the Birmingham Exhibition
1851 Westley Richards, Birmingham, formerly Plater and Jeweller, was appointed one of the Jurors of the Great Exhibition[6]
1851 Wessley Richards 60, gun manufacturer, living in Edgbaston with Harriet Richards 58, Mary A Richards 29, Charles Richards 27, gun manufacturer, George Richards 25, solicitor in practice[7]
1854 Patent on "An improvement or improvements in loading certain kinds of fire-arms"[8]
1855 Patent to Westley Richards, manufacturer of Birmingham, and Joseph Rock Cooper, manufacturer of Birmingham, on "an improvement or improvements in breech loading fire arms[9]
1855 Patent to William Westley Richards, of Birmingham, Gun Manufacturer, for the invention of "an improvement or improvements in repeating or revolving firearms."[10]
1861 Westley Richards 72, magistrate and gun manufacturer, living in Edgbaston, with Harriett Richards 69, Charles Richards 37, gun manufacturer, Mary Ann Richards 39[11]
1865 Died[12]
1869 Charles married; William Westley was described as "Esquire"
See Also
Sources of Information
- [1] Memorial in Birmingham Cathedral