Benjamin Heywood

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Benjamin Heywood, 1st Baronet (1793–1865) was an English banker and philanthropist from Manchester.

Early life
He was born on 12 December 1793 in Manchester. He came from a prominent family and studied at the University of Glasgow. He lived at Claremont, near the city center, in Irlams o’ th’ Height.

Career
Heywood joined his father’s bank as a partner in 1814 and became the sole proprietor in 1828. He was passionate about education and helped found the Manchester Mechanics’ Institute, serving as its president from 1825 to 1840. He briefly served as Member of Parliament for Lancashire from 1831 to 1832, and was rewarded with a baronetcy in 1838 for his support of the Reform Act of 1832. He was also active in the Manchester Statistical Society.

Personal life
His family had strong ties to Derbyshire and Staffordshire, and they owned a summer retreat at Dove Leys near Denstone. He was the father of three sons: Sir Thomas Percival Heywood, 2nd Baronet; Oliver Heywood; and Rev. R. H. Heywood.

Philanthropy
In 1864, Heywood donated £100 to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution to help build a lifeboat station in Blackpool. The station stood at Lytham Road and Bolton Street and served the RNLI for many years.

Honours
He was made a Baronet in 1838. He was Treasurer of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society from 1815 to 1850 and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1843.

Legacy
Benjamin Heywood was a notable Manchester banker and philanthropist whose support for education and public welfare left a lasting impact on the city and beyond.