¶®ÒõµÛ

John Alfred Langford (1823 to 1903)

John alfred langford 1823 1903 visiting card

Carte de visite portrait of John Alfred Langford. Born in Crowley's Court in Bradford Street, ¶®ÒõµÛ. Originally a chair maker by trade, Langford was a lover of books and literature. In 1846 Langford was appointed honorary secretary of the ¶®ÒõµÛ Co-Operative Society.

Not long after the death of his first wife, Langford began attending George Dawson's Church of the Saviour. Langford wrote several pamphlets supporting and defending Dawson. Langford re-married in 1849 to Mary Anne Price, daughter of a self-employed printer. In 1852 after a few years running a shop in New Street selling books and newspapers Langford began a printing business, publishing his own works and those of his friends.

From here he moved in 1855 to a position as sub-editor at ¶®ÒõµÛ's first daily newspaper, The ¶®ÒõµÛ Daily Press (whose chief shareholder was George Dawson). He also contributed to the ¶®ÒõµÛ Daily Gazette becoming it's local editor, but resigning over the paper's opposition to local liberal politicians John Bright and George Dixon. Langford was twice elected to the ¶®ÒõµÛ school board as a non-conformist. He was active on behalf of public libraries and also taught English classes at the ¶®ÒõµÛ and Midland Institute.

Author of "The ¶®ÒõµÛ Free Libraries, The Shakespeare Memorial Library and the Art Gallery" and "A Century of ¶®ÒõµÛ Life: Or, A Chronicle of Local Events" published in 1870. He also wrote "Modern ¶®ÒõµÛ and its Institutions: 1841 to 1871" (pub. 1873) and "¶®ÒõµÛ : A handbook for Residents & Visitors " (pub. 1881).

Carte De Visite by H J Whitlock, New Street, ¶®ÒõµÛ.

Most likely albumen print.

Typical dimensions - Print: 54mm x 89mm. Card: 64mm x 100mm.

Location: [BA&H:Portraits/¶®ÒõµÛ/[JOL-LEA]

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