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Provost Charles Parker

As a director of the Albert Institute Provost Parker was key to the establishment of the original building as well as being a successful businessman in Dundee. Sadly he did not live to see the British Association meeting later in 1867.

Subscription value in 1863:

£100

Relative to inflation up to 2024:

£10000

Relative to income compared to 2024:

£80000

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Personal details and history

Full name

Charles Parker

Date of birth

30-04-1796

Place of birth

Bentham, England[1]

Gender

Male

Marital status

Married[2]

Name of spouse

Isabella (nee Hodgson) born Durham[2] died 1866 Bridge of Allan[3]

Children

Edward, Charles, Thomas, William, Frederick, Isabella and Robert[2] Adopted grandson Thomas Laidman Parker[4][5]

Home address

Eden Grove,
Dundee[4]
earlier 10 Reform Street[5] then 5 Greenfield Place, Dundee[6]
formerly Priestgate House, Darlington, County Durham[2]

Age at death:

70[7]

Place of death:

Eden Grove, Dundee[7]

Date of death:

18-04-1867

Buried:

Eastern Necropolis, Dundee

Affiliations, clubs, offices and related subscribers

Religious affiliation

Wesleyan Methodist[7]

Political affiliation

Unknown

Clubs / societies

Not known

Public offices

Elected to Council Board in 1857, appointed Treasurer in 1859, elected Provost in 1861 and re-elected in 1864. Died in office in 1867. He had taken an active role in the solving of many controversial legal disputes which enabled the settlement of the town's obligations and opened the way for the building of the Albert Institute and later the Free Library.[7]

Related subscribers

Edward Parker eldest son

Charles Parker second son

Dr Robert Cocks MD physician

Career and worklife

Occupation

Engineer and Machine Maker[5]

Employment

Owner, employing 180 persons in 1861[6]

Place of work

Charles Parker & Sons, engineers & machine makers[5]

Work address

Ladybank and Clepington Foundries Dundee[7]
Office: 2 Royal Exchange Court, Dundee[5]

Career to date:

Before moving with his family to Dundee, Charles had already displayed an interest in local public affairs and had also introduced innovations in the design of power looms.[1] On arrival in Dundee he established an iron foundry at Chapelshade and later a second foundry at Clepington. He was joined in his business by two of his sons and was greatly respected in his business, public and personal life.[7]

More information

Baptised 30-04-1796 son of Edward and Margaret (Peggy nee Geldard)[1]

Died 18-04-1867 Certified By Dr Robert Cocks. Cause of death heart disease.

Left a personal estate of £10,647 16s. 1 1/2d.[4]

Sources

  1. 1796 Families/Parker/notes. www.prattens.co.uk.
  2. 1841 Census England,Wales and Scotland. HO 107/303/27. Find My Past website.
  3. Statutory Records. Bridge of Allan. Death. 1866. 374/47. Scotland's People website.
  4. 1867 Wills and Testaments. Dundee Sheriff Court. 1867. SC 45/31/20. Scotland's People website.
  5. 1851 Census Scotland. Dundee. 282/71/8. Scotland's People website.
  6. 1861 Census Scotland. Dundee. 282/2 13/24. Scotland's People website.
  7. Norrie, W. (1873) Dundee Celebrities of the Nineteenth Century. Dundee: William  Norrie. p.289. D2596E. Local Studies, Dundee Central Library.

The information above about Charles Parker has been collated from a range of digital and hard copy sources. To the best of our knowledge it is correct but if you are relying on any information from our website for the purpose of your own research we would advise you to follow up the sources to your own satisfaction. If you are aware of an inaccuracy in our text please do not hesitate to notify us through our Contact page.