John Batchelor (politician)

John Batchelor
Statue of John Batchelor in The Hayes, Cardiff
Born	1820 (1820)
Died	1883 (aged 62–63)
Other names	"Friend of freedom"
Occupation(s)	Businessman and politician
Political party	Liberal

John Batchelor (10 April 1820 – 29 May 1883)^[1][2] was a prominent Welsh Victorian businessman and politician, who earned the epithet "Friend of Freedom".^[3]

Life and career

Although born in Newport, Monmouthshire, Batchelor became a prominent Cardiff figure, having moved there in his early twenties. He set up business as a timber merchant and, later, slate merchant and also played a key role in establishing the Mount Stuart Dry Dock.

He was an active Liberal politician and served as a Liberal Councillor and, later, Mayor of Cardiff, in addition to being Chairman of the Cardiff School Board. He also campaigned against slavery.

Conflict with the Butes

However, John Batchelor's political activity brought him into conflict with the Bute family (John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute), who had significant land-holdings in Cardiff, including Cardiff Castle, and had built much of the docks.

The Butes supported the Tory party and many believed that their conspiring led to the collapse of Batchelor's shipbuilding business.

Death and legacy

John Batchelor died in 1883 and was buried at Cathays Cemetery, alongside his son Tom Eustace, who had died in infancy.^[2]

Statue

Main article: Statue of John Batchelor

A subscription fund was established to erect a statue in his memory. This was followed by a petition of 12,000 signatures, started by his opponents, campaigning against the statue.^[4] The statue, created by the sculptor James Milo Griffith,^[5] was finally unveiled on 16 October 1886 and stands in The Hayes, Cardiff. Its plinth is inscribed “JOHN BATCHELOR B.1820 D.1883 THE FRIEND of FREEDOM”.

A Conservative solicitor, T. H. Ensor, wrote a scathing piece in the Western Mail, suggesting the words "Friend of Freedom" be replaced with "traitor to the Crown... hater of the clergy... sincerely mourned by unpaid creditors". He was sued unsuccessfully for libel. The case set a legal precedent in British law that the dead could not be libelled.^[6]

References

1. "The Late Mr John Batchelor". National Library of Wales. South Wales Daily News. 31 May 1883. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
2. Gordon Hindess (2014). "John Batchelor: Friend of Freedom" (PDF). Friends of Cathays Cemetery. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
3. David James Friend of freedom facing capture, South Wales Echo, 18 January 2010. Retrieved 2011-12-29.
4. Cadw. "Statue of John Batchelor (13721)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
5. "GRIFFITH , JAMES MILO". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
6. "Batchelor, John (1820 - 1883), businessman and politician". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. Retrieved 10 September 2022.