Background
Backhouse was born on 19 January 1779 to Jonathan Backhouse (1747–1826) and his wife Ann (1746-1826) daughter of Edward Pease (1711–1785) of Darlington. After his father died, Backhouse took over what was to become Backhouse"s Bank.
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Jonathan Backhouse
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Career
Jonathan Backhouse (1779-1842) was a third generation banker from Darlington. He is known for financing the Stockton to Darlington Railway. Backhouse was involved with financing the Stockton and Darlington Railway.
He raised £125,000.
Twenty thousand pounds were from his own resources and the largest contribution of £80,000 came from his Quaker banker contacts. A story is told that when the Earl of Darlington"s plot to bankrupt the Backhouse bank was discovered then Backhouse went to London to obtain gold to provide additional and urgent collateral. The plot was due to the Earl"s anger that the new railway, financed by Backhouses"s bank was causing problems with the Earl"s fox hunting.
Backhouse was racing back to Darlington when he lost a wheel.
lieutenant is said that he was able to continue the journey by moving the gold so that the chaise was still balanced and he was able to complete the journey with a wheel still missing. Backhouse gave up banking in 1833 in order that he could concentrate on his Quaker ministry.
In 1840, Backhouse is one of the leading people at the World Anti-Slavery Convention organised by Joseph Sturge and the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society in 1840. Backhouse is one the larger figures on the left of the painting.
He is shown supporting the chair of the star guest and speaker, Thomas Clarkson.
