Background
Priestley was born at Thornton, West Yorkshire.
Priestley was born at Thornton, West Yorkshire.
He also had worsted mills in Thornton. His company was one of the pioneers in manufacturing waterproof fabrics. In 1867 Priestley was elected to the Bradford Town Council and was responsible for the provision of a park in Horton and for the establishment of an art gallery and museum in Bradford.
He established a free school for orphan children in New Leeds district in 1868 and two years later another in the Bolton Road.
In 1877 he became Mayor of Bradford and raised funding for Bradford College. He became an alderman in 1879 and retired from the council in 1880.
Priestley was an advanced liberal and became president of the East Bradford Liberal Association. He donated the bandstand at Pudsey.
Priestley lived at Ferncliffe, Appleby Bridge where he died at the age of 76.
23rd United Kingdom Parliament. 24th United Kingdom Parliament. 25th United Kingdom Parliament.
26th United Kingdom Parliament]
Priestley was member of the Council of the Bradford Chamber of Commerce, the Bradford Board of Guardians and the Infirmary Board and was a Justice of the Peace He was elected as Member of Parliament (Member of Parliament) for Pudsey at the 1885 general election and held the seat until he retired from the House of Commons at the 1900 general election.