George William Wood (21 July 1781 – 3 October 1843)[1][2] was an English businessman, Member of Parliament and leading member of civil society in Manchester.
George William Wood was born inLeeds, the son ofWilliam Wood, aUnitarianminister who wasJoseph Priestley's successor at theMill Hill Chapel, amateurbotanist and campaigner against theTest Acts. His mother was Louisa Annnée Oates, the daughter of a wealthy Leeds family.[3]
Wood moved to Manchester around 1801 and became a prominent businessman there but, as a memorial in theUpper Brook Street Chapel cited, "having early in life engaged in commercial pursuits ... he quitted [sic] the pursuits of wealth for the nobler objects of public usefulness."[4] He was member of parliament forLancashire South from 1832 to 1835,[1] and forKendal from 1837 until his death.[2] He was a prime mover in the establishment of both theRoyal Manchester Institution and theManchester Mechanics' Institute,[4] and was one of the two inaugural vice-presidents of theManchester Athenaeum.[5]
He died suddenly of a stroke at a meeting of theManchester Literary and Philosophical Society and was buried at theUpper Brook Street Chapel.[6]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| New constituency | Member of Parliament forSouth Lancashire 1832 –1835 With:Viscount Molyneux | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forKendal 1837 –1843 | Succeeded by |