Person Arkwright; Richard (1755-1843); Financier; son of Sir Richard Arkwright DS/UK/1171 Arkwright Richard 1755-1843 Financier; son of Sir Richard Arkwright

Cotton manufacturer and landowner, born on 19 December 1755 at Bolton, Lancashire, the only son of Sir Richard Arkwright (1732-1792), cotton manufacturer, and his wife, Patience (d. 1756). Richard junior continued to capitalise on his father’s business success and following the death of Richard senior's death he showed adeptness at managing the properties, partnerships and mills he inherited and purchased various grand houses elsewhere in the country. Choosing to live in Willersley Castle he continued to improve working conditions for the people in his mills. He also had an interest in horticulture, growing tropical fruits in his hothouses, which led to him being awarded the Horticultural Society Gold Medal in 1822. He was the largest holder of government stocks in England at his death, having reinvested profits gained through cotton spinning, and posthumously earned the soubriquet ‘the richest commoner in England. He died at Willersley Castle, Cromford 1843 and was buried in the family vault at Cromford Chapel on 29 April 1843. His character was summarized in the Gentleman’s Magazine 'generous without ostentation and charitable without parade'. DS/UK/961 Yes Written May 2020, VW. International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) 2nd edition - ICA 2004 ISBN 2-9521932-2-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 A7003503 28/05/2015 DERBYSHIRE\71041338 02/10/2026 5dc38514-8c01-4ced-b198-f965c338e0bb