Constituency : Manchester 1867 - 74, 1876 -85, Manchester South West 1886-95
Jacob retained Manchester for the Liberals on the death of Edward James.
Jacob was the younger brother of John Bright. He was educated at a Quaker school before entering the family business. He introduced the linotype machine to Britain. He was a radical and supported the Chartists. He was the first mayor of Manchester and stood for the city in 1865. He was present at the refounding of the Manchester Suffrage Society in 1867.
Jacob was a pacifist and supporter of women's suffrage. His maiden speech was in favour of disestablishing the Irish Church. His last contribution decried the import of spirits into African colonies. He was also a homeopath , involved in the Anti-Vaccination League.
In describing a speech Jacob made in favour of non-intervention in 1871 The Spectator noted that " Mr Jacob Bright, as usual, speaks like his brother minus his imagination, sagacity and power, but not minus his wrath".
After Mill's defeat in 1868 he became the parliamentary spokesman for women's suffrage. In 1869 he moved the amendment to the Municipal Corporations Bill that gave women the local government franchise. He spent the first few years of the 1870s moving female suffrage bills that Gladstone's government would not accept. He was also involved in the campaign to repeal the Contagious Diseases Act.
Jacob stayed a Gladstonian when John became a Liberal Unionist and publicly declared his brother's stance was mistaken. A Liberal Unionist Hopkinson was nominated against him in 1889 which broke a fragile truce in Manchester. He was dogged by ill health in later years. He stepped down in 1895.
He died in 1899
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