Joseph
Rowntree,
the son of a Quaker grocer, was born in
York on 24th May, 1834. After only five years
of schooling Joseph began work as a grocer. He started with his father
at fourteen but part of his apprenticeship involved working in London.
While working in the city Joseph became very interested in politics
and regularly attended debates at the House
of Commons.
Rowntree returned to work for his father but in 1869 he left to join
his brother, Henry Rowntree, who owned the Cocoa, Chocolate &
Chicory Works in York. The company only employed
thirty workers at the time, but under Joseph's influence the company
grew rapidly and by the end of the century it was an enormous international
concern with over 4,000 employees. One important development was the
decision to produce Fruit Pastilles in 1881. Other new products included
Chocolate Drops, Fruit Gums and Jelly Babies.
On the death of Henry in 1883, Joseph Rowntree became the owner of
the company. As well as running this fast-growing business, Rowntree
devoted a considerable time to public work. He served on the committee
responsible for two Quaker schools in
York and taught in an Adult School on Sunday.
Rowntree also played a leading role in the establishment of the York
Public Library. He also provided a park in York as a memorial to those
killed during the First World War.
Influenced by the book Poverty,
A Study of Town Life, written
by his son Benjamin Seebohm Rowntree,
Joseph Rowntree
attempted to improve the quality of his employees' lives. He provided
a library in the factory and free education for workers under seventeen.
A social welfare officer, doctor and a dentist were employed to provide
free services for the workforce. Joseph Rowntree also donated £10,000
in 1906 to establish a Pension Fund for his workers. One of his main
innovations was to give the workers a say in the appointment of their
immediate supervisors.
Rowntree's major concern was to find ways of reducing poverty. In
1863 he produced a statistical study on the links between crime and
poverty. Two years later he published a second study, Pauperism
in England and Wales.
Rowntree also provided practical help for the poor and in 1901 he
purchased 123 acres at New
Earswick
to build houses for low-income families.
Rowntree was a supporter of the Liberal Party.
In 1907 he funded the Nation,
a weekly journal that advocated social reform. Three years later he
helped purchase the Morning Leader
and The Star,
in order to stop the newspapers falling into the hands of supporters
of the Conservative Party.
A long time active member of the Temperance
Society, Rowntree wrote several books and pamphlets on the subject
including The Temperance Problem and Social
Reform (1900), Public Control
of the Liquor Trade (1903) and The
Taxation of the Liquor Trade (1906).
Rowntree was very critical of the Anglican
Church for what he considered to be its lack of interest in dealing
with social injustice. Rowntree was also in favour of abolishing the
House of Lords, an institution that he believed
was hampering social progress. Rowntree retained his interest in politics
and social welfare until his death in 1925.
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