Frank Crossley, MP
(1817-1872)
30 June 1862

Volume 8, page 149, sitting number 10,218.

The carpet manufactuer and philanthropist Francis Crossley (later Sir Francis Crossley) was the Member of Parliament for Halifax from 1852 to 1859 and then the MP for different divisions of Yorkshire until his death in 1872. 

Born on 26 October 1817, he was the son of John Crossley, a carpet manufacturer in Halifax. John Crossley died in 1837 and his sons inherited the business. Francis, Joseph and John junior introduced steam power and machinery into production and under their management the firm became the largest concern of its kind in the world. 

In appreciation of his many philanthropic acts, Francis Crossley was created a baronet on 23 January 1863.

On 11 December 1845 he married Martha Eliza, daughter of Henry Brinton of Kidderminster. Their marriage produced one son Savile Crossley, who eventually became the second baronet. He was also successively the Member of Parliament for Lowestoft and for Halifax.

Sir Francis Crossley died on 5 January 1872 after a long illness at Bellevue, his home near Halifax. He left an estate valued at an astonishing £800,000.