825 John Barran

Constituency  : Leeds  1876-85, Otley  1886-95

John  won  a  by-election  at  Leeds  following  the  resignation  of  Robert  Carter.

John  founded  a  successful  clothing  manufacturing  business in  Leeds. He  became  a  pioneer  in  ready  to  wear  clothing , coming  up  with  efficient  new  methods  of  cutting  cloth.He  was  mayor  from  1870  to  1871  when  he  supervised  the  purchase  of  Roundhay  Park. He  was  a  Baptist.

In  1877  John  took  up  the  cause  of  a  girl  expelled  from  school  for  refusing  to  curtsey  to  the clergyman's  wife. He  supported  extending  the  franchise  and  permissive  legislation  to  further the  temperance  cause. In  1879  he  spoke  in  favour  of  putting  the  public  accounts  in  public libraries.

John  was  made  a  baronet  in  1895.  He  was  a  Member  of  the  Council  of  Yorkshire  College  which  became  Leeds  University.

He  died  in  1905  aged  83. His  son  Rowland  also  became  an  MP.