790 John Crossley

Constituency : Halifax 1874-7

John  took  over  from  Edward Akroyd  at  Halifax.

John  was  a  member  of  the  famous  carpet manufacturing  dynasty  and  elder  brother  of  Francis, MP  for  the  seat  from  1852-7.  He  was  Mayor  of  Halifax  on  four  occasions  and  instrumental  in  building  the  Town  Hall. He  was  chairman  of  the  Halifax  Commercial  Banking  Company  from  1871  to  1877. He  also  had  an  interest  in  an  iron  mining  operation  in  Somerset  from  1867  to  1871.

John's  two   speeches  in  Parliament   opposed  the  extension  of  the  Factory  Acts.

John  and  his  brothers  set  up  an  orphanage  at  Halifax. The  first  orphan  described  John  as  "tall, straight  and  very  dignified".

John  resigned  his  seat  at  the  beginning  of  1877.

He  died  in  1879  aged  67.