Bright was born at Green Bank near Rochdale, Lancashire. He was the fourth of eleven children of Jacob Bright and Martha Wood. His father was a Quaker and had established a cotton-spinning business at Fieldhouse. His elder brother, John Bright, was a radical politician, and his sister, Priscilla Bright McLaren, campaigned for women's rights.[1][2]
Jacob Bright was educated at the Friends School in York before entering the family business of John Bright & Brothers, cotton-spinners.[2] Bright and his brother Thomas managed the firm, and by 1885 the business had expanded into carpet manufacture.[3] He was also responsible for introducing the linotype machine to England.[1]
Bright became involved in radical politics and supported Chartism.[1] He was the first mayor of Rochdale on the town's incorporation as a municipal borough.[2] He stood for election in 1865 in Manchester. Although unsuccessful on his first attempt, he won a by-election in 1867.[2] The election was notable because Lilly Maxwell voted for Bright. This vote by a woman was later overturned.[5] Bright was one of the earliest supporters of the construction of the Manchester Ship Canal.[6]
Bright remained as MP for South West Manchester until 1895. Upon retirement, Bright was sworn into the privy council at the suggestion of Lord Rosebery.[2] Jacob Bright died at midnight on 7/8 November 1899, aged 78, at his residence, "Nunn's Acre", Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.[2] He was cremated without a funeral service. The central committee of the Society for Women's Suffrage passed a resolution recognising his contribution to the movement.[1] There is a memorial for Jacob and Ursula at St George's Church, Esher.
Family
In 1855, Bright married Ursula Mellor Bright, daughter of a Liverpool merchant and campaigner for women's rights. They had three children.[1]
Gallery
"The Apostle to the Women". Caricature by Spy published in Vanity Fair in 1877
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