Crossley

Crossley, SIR FRANCIS, manufacturer and philanthropist, was born at Halifax, October 26, 1817. His father was the founder of the Dean Clough Carpet Mills. Sir Francis encouraged the inventor George Collier to produce a greatly improved carpet-loom; the mills increased till 6000 hands were employed; while carpets were much cheapened in price, and their use greatly extended at home and abroad. Amongst Sir Francis's benefactions to Halifax were a public park (1857) at a cost of £40,000, almshouses, and orphan homes, besides large donations to the London Missionary Society and to the Congregationalists. A baronetcy was conferred on him in 1863, and from 1852 till his death on 5th Jan. 1872 he represented Halifax and the West Riding as a Liberal.