british politician philanthropist industrialist member parliament hull east years served city justice peace high steward helped establish manufacturer household goods kingston hull foremost businesses career company spanned years initial employment confidential clerk death chairman house_of_commons spoke cause women rights supported women suffrage home repeatedly drew attention trafficking women girls colonies great nature retiring man work westminster completed committee rooms away seek election campaign devout numerous charitable donations life gifts hull include donation establishment university motto parts country substantial donations schools hospitals charitable organisations early life childhood early career born village close market town seven children flour miller wife anne née jackson attending private school age thirteen found employment clerk office mineral department years later left home worked clerk head committed taught grammar mechanics weekends taught sunday school enjoyed playing cricket working years left post confidential clerk kingston hull family life hull continued teach sunday school practice began time teaching sunday school met field fellow teacher wealthy merchant daughter masculine appearance married continued teach rest lives remained childless couple adopted nephew known till till separated wife estranged adoptive parents war till like thomas liberal stood general election career industry successful firm joined produced household washing blue black lead acquired run sons francis james forward thinking moved swiftly company managerial ranks works manager share profits secretary general manager joined board directors private joint stock company died years later named joint chairman guidance company flourished successful city opened offices london new_york expanded natural progression business launched politics public life appointed justice peace freeman entered parliament liberal member unsuccessful bid seat years earlier king george appointed year high steward hull frequent speaker parliament chaired committees member world war printed record parliamentary debates records parliamentary contribution related schools orphan homes health troops palestine theme parliamentary contributions women rights presented petition favour women house discussed allegedly speech wondered speech influenced example following year asked questions slave trading women including trade west african women trade european japanese women india questioned home secretary role women police force personal religious convictions evident parliamentary contributions number questions concerning home colonies question orphan schools later asked railway accidents children trafficking young girls india opened parliamentary debate increase cost living caused war causing especially poor noted labourers families content owing high price life meal meat week prime minister agreed prices high felt high expected considering scale global conflict remarked current high prices precedent peacetime price coal higher intervened behalf constituency inhabitants april drew attention general case post office clerk having difficulties claiming pension august fatal raid early previous morning city able muster single gun asked adequate defences provided brought action necessary election campaign subjected personal attacks accusing little reporting contested hull seats times spoke attacks covert insults challenges weapons noted opponent busy digging little navy speeches little elected resolved stand war active supporter away politics important figure community typically stayed survey personalities leaders times noted respected men seldom figure platforms went list number leadership largely hands commented attempted intervene behalf ship painter sentenced death murder telegram addressed king sent early hours december appealing exercise appeal unsuccessful smith executed later morning lifelong strong advocate youth attended band hope meetings elected treasurer shared platform archbishop_of_canterbury mansion house occasion inaugural meeting organised christian churches england wales campaign objectives present modern scientific indictment alcoholic moral implications rally local support council immediate legislative program included prohibition sale alcohol persons age banning sale alcohol sundays campaign firmly opposed prohibition plain times report archbishop address mind prohibition cheers open confession failure donated fund established accomplish aims campaign man time started earning salary allocated income charity personal wealth increased quickly growth opportunity generous donations deemed greatest life distributing annual income purchased plot land queen victoria square centre land site church later year wrote council informing intended donate land city donate shares worth letter read council meeting explained shares land build art gallery years later prince wales laid foundation stone prince visited premises greeted company workforce numbered finally opened educational establishments hospitals donated extend bath year later queen opened extension possible donation similar year new post graduate theological college donated opened cambridge training ministers february formally handed prince arthur possible donation handing institute said hoped attract workers parts empire countries outside largest single donation wrote lord mayor kingston hull inform intended donate foundation university college city college built west city eighteen half acre site previously donated duke york laid foundation stone prince george opened new college college president motto carrying light learning dove university logo signifies peace taken coat arms remained modest man saw giving moral duty repeatedly declined offers speech visited school king said right assuming acquainted parts country time associated manner know thing want public expression thanks like allowed share debt gratitude owes today legacy march ill health prevented attending company annual meeting missed years fulfilled public engagements weeks wrote speech presented sir speech able present board pleasing figures net profit increase record year source great able relations exist workers management board died home years earlier bequeathed house grounds rest home poor preserved open space house continues run residential home ladies year death held mark opening major new centre city times reported rank finest continued street wide wider london way new street large area cleared houses low rent housing provided displaced new road merged company merged acquired billion company headquartered hull site remains city significant employers 21st century legacy remains woven fabric city hull university college continued expand gaining university awarded queen award technological achievement alumni include houses internationally renowned permanent collection includes works generations hull children enjoyed summers boating lake trips aboard donated city provide shelter city century death new secondary school named opened hull named honour school renamed
Thomas Ferens