Sir Arthur Bower Forwood, 1st Baronet Personal Computer Member of Parliament was an English merchant, shipowner, and politician.
Background
Forwood was born in Edge Hill, Liverpool, the eldest son of Thomas Brittain Forwood, a merchant, and Charlotte née Bower, the daughter of a cotton broker. When his father retired from the business in 1862, he ran it with his younger brother, William.
Education
He was educated at Liverpool Collegiate and then joined the family business.
Career
This was at a time when the cotton trade was being disrupted by the American Civil War. They set up offices in New York, New Orleans and Bombay and ran a small fleet of ships that traded in the West Indies, Costa Rica and New New York Forwood"s political life started in 1871 when he was elected as a city councillor.
He served as Lord Mayor of Liverpool in 1878-1879, and became effectively the leader of Liverpool"s Conservatives.
He stood for the Liverpool constituency in a 1882 by-election, but lost the Conservative held seat to the Liberal candidate. In the general election of 1885 Forwood was returned for Ormskirk, a seat he held until his death.
In 1886 Lord Salisbury appointed him as Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty, a post he retained until 1892. He was the first shipowner to become an Admiralty minister.
In 1892 he was appointed as a privy councillor, and was the first serving town councillor to be appointed to this position.
He was created a baronet in 1895. Policies and personality
He supported the establishment of an episcopal see and a University College in Liverpool and, more generally, advocated universal suffrage, the redistribution of parliamentary seats, temperance reform, comprehensive employers" liability, old age pensions, council housing, public utilities and public transport. When he was a minister, he was described as being "a hustler" and as having drive as an administrator and reformer, but he did not have "the knack of making himself popular".
His manner was described as being "unvarnished" and he was "short of the instincts of a Gentleman".
Nevertheless, he was praised for his effectiveness and for his determination.
Membership
23rd United Kingdom Parliament. 24th United Kingdom Parliament. 25th United Kingdom Parliament.
26th United Kingdom Parliament.
Personality
He was a Conservative Member of Parliament from 1885 until his death, and in 1895 he was created a baronet.