Constituency : Middleton 1897-1900, Stockport 1906-10
James recaptured Middleton from the Tories after the unexpected death of the incumbent.He won by 300 votes.
James was a weaver's son from Haslingden . He worked as a doffer in a cotton mill from a child. He later had a short spell in the Marines. He attended night classes. He got a job in the warehouse of a wool merchant. In the 1860s he suffered a health breakdown and started selling tea to get some fresh air. In 1868 he opened his first shop in Rochdale . In 1876 he bought a warehouse there and started a wholesale business. In 1895 he started a limited company which eventually expanded to run nearly 200 shops. in the North. There was still a "Duckworth's " store in Littleborough when I was little. He also had interests in cotton firms, newspapers and coffee houses. He was inspired by Cobden and Bright and was present at the former's last address to his constituents in 1864. In 1891 he became mayor of Rochdale. In 1892 he became a Lancashire county councillor. He stood in the Warwick and Leamington by-election in 1895 , losing to a Liberal Unionist. He was a Methodist.
James criticised the government's Indian policy in his maiden speech. He was a passionate supporter of the Education of Children Bill in 1998.
James was narrowly defeated in 1900. He was mayor again in 1901. He retired as managing director and chairman of the firm in 1905.
James was knighted in 1908.
James's last parliamentary contribution was lamenting German scare stories in the debate on the naval estimates in 1909. He had just been to Germany and found only warm feelings towards Britain.
James stood down in January 1910 as he was approaching 70. He became mayor of Rochdale for a third and final term.
He died in 1915 aged 74.
It's nice to be writing this one on a day that the length of this blog just expanded.
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