Son of woollen manufacturer and ironworks company chairman Henry Mallalieu (1831-1902), J.P., of Delph Lodge, Delph, Saddleworth, near Oldham, (now Greater Manchester, then in the West Riding of Yorkshire) Mallalieu was educated at Huddersfield College,[1] Henry Mallalieu was of humble origins, one of nineteen children of weaver Joseph Mallalieu, and descended from Huguenots that settled at Saddleworth in the early 1600s; at the age of twelve Henry worked as a hand-loom weaver.[2][3][4][5] Frederick's brother, Albert Henry Mallalieu, was head of that family of Tan-y-Marian, Llandudno.[6][7]
However, a Conservative candidate did stand at the 1922 general election, and Mallalieu was reduced to third place, losing his seat to the Labour Party's Philip Snowden. His share of the vote had fallen from 58.8% in 1918 to only 25.1% in 1922.
Mallalieu did not stand for Parliament again, and died in 1932, aged 71.
He married, in 1902, Ann, daughter of Joseph Hardman;[8] two of their sons were elected to the House of Commons:
Lance (born 1905) was Liberal MP for Colne Valley from 1931 to 1935, then Labour MP for Brigg from 1948 to 1974