Background
Rowland Hirst Barran was born on August 7, 1858.
Rowland Hirst Barran was born on August 7, 1858.
Barran became chairman of the family firm in 1918, succeeding his brother Charles Barran who had succeeded their father in this post in 1903. He was a member of the Leeds City Council alongside Alderman Francis Martineau Lupton, and served on the Leeds School Board before his election to parliament. He was elected to the Parliament for Leeds North in a by-election on 29 July 1902 (caused by the elevation of William Jackson to the peerage), and served until the General Election of December 14, 1918.