Constituency : Stockton 1895-1900, 1910-17
Jonathan bucked the trend by recapturing Stockton from the Tories. He had been invited by both the Liberal Association and the local Labour organisation to contest the seat.
Jonathan was a self- made businessman .He started out as a rolling mill operative in Ebbw Vale Iron Works.at 10 years old. Two years later the family moved to Stockton-on-Tees where he found similar work. He worked in Sheffield and Middlesbrough and helped organise the Iron and Steel Workers Association. Later in life he became a successful grocer and was active in local politics. He was Mayor of Stockton in 1894-5. He was a staunch Nonconformist and supported direct popular control over all schools receiving public money despite the presence of a large Catholic vote in his constituency.
Jonathan spoke against the Working Men's Dwelling s Bill in 1896 as he was opposed to municipalities becoming trading concerns..
Jonathan was defeated by the Tories in 1900 and did not stand when they retained the seat in 1900. He was Mayor of Stockton again in 1902. He won it back in January 1910 and held it until his death.
He died of a stroke in 1917 aged 63.
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