Henry Hartley Fowler, 1862- 1863

Fowler was born on the 16th May 1830, the son of a Wesleyan minister, and baptised at Bishop's Wearmouth on the 8th November. His father was a Liberal, brought up in Bradford, and passed his opinions onto his son. The family moved to Bristol, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and London during Fowler's childhood. Whilst in Newcastle-upon-Tyne he became a boarder at Woodhouse Grove, Yorkshire, a school for the sons of Methodist ministers. During his time in London he was a pupil at St Saviours School, Southwark. After leaving school he joined a firm of solicitors in Hull. Family connections in Wolverhampton resulted in his marriage to Eleanor Thorneycroft at St Mark's, Chapel Ash, on the 6th October 1857. They lived at 'Summerfield' in Chapel Ash, a Thorneycroft residence; but in 1867 moved to a purpose built house, 'Woodthorne', on Wergs Road. Fowler's first municipal speech addressed the main sewerage scheme at the mayoral banquet in 1858. At this time his uncle, John Hartley, was mayor. Fowler was first elected to Wolverhampton Council as Liberal representative. He became mayor in 1862, when he was thirty-two years old, and served on the council for twenty-six years, playing an active role in the council's decision to acquire control of the water supply. Additionally, he emphasised the need for further school places following the passing of the Elementary Education Act of 1870. In 1880 he entered Parliament, representing Wolverhampton. He became Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of State for India, Grand Commander of the Star of India, and eventually Baron of Wolverhampton with Royal connections.

Freedom of the Borough Wolverhampton Chronicle 13th January and 17th February 1892 Retirement Wolverhampton Chronicle 22nd June 1910
Death Wolverhampton Chronicle 1st March 1911
WH Jones 1903 Municipal Life in Wolverhampton (Alexander & Shepherd, London)
Article in Wolverhampton Magazine 'The Loves of Four Daughters-One of Whom was Enobled!' Vol 1 No 3 September 1963 (L07SR) (L92THO)
Photograph in F Avery (ed) 1948 The Book of the Century (Grove Publishing, England) p.51 A Perry 1997 The Fowler Legacy. (Brewin Books, Warwickshire)
Photograph Index - Y1/FOW, Y1/MEM/1, Y1/MAY/1, OV/54, 55, U6/12 and N/3/WOO.