Weaste Cemetery

Biographies of people buried between 1910 & 19

Sir Richard Mottram (1848 - 1914)


Sir Richard Mottram was a Mechanical Engineer and Mayor of Salford. He was Mayor of Salford for three terms (1894 to 1897) and also did half a term when Mayor Richard Husband died mid term in 1898.

 


He was born on 15th October 1848 and was the youngest son of an old and respected Salford family. His father was Richard Elliot Mottram, a Brewer and a member of Salford Council for nearly thirty years, and his mother was the daughter of William Bow of the Engineering firm of Jenkinson and Bow. William Bow was also the Hon. Surveyor of Highways for Broughton.

 


Richard Mottram was educated at Manchester Grammar School, and served his time with the engineering company of W & J Galloway (makers of the famous Lancashire boiler), before forming his own engineering business in Market Place Manchester. Later he became a Director of Galloways, as well as a Director of Manchester Liners.

 


He married Jane Nuttall, daughter of Mr John Nuttall, paper manufacturer of Farnworth and they lived at Beech House on Bolton Road. They had five children, but tragically his wife Jane died in 1893 aged only 37. Richard married again a year later to Margaret Edith Morton, daughter of Dr. W A Morton of Horwich. They had a daughter whilst Richard was Mayor of Salford, which caused great celebration. Margaret died in 1927.

 


Richard was a staunch member of Christ Church (C of E) where he was Rector's Warden for twenty years and also one of its school managers. He was a Conservative in politics and president of Crescent Conservative Club and its Election Committee. He was also a Freemason.

 


His Council career started in November 1877 when he was elected for Crescent Ward, and he became an Alderman in 1885 at the age of 37. He was a member of most of the Council's committees and was elected Mayor for three terms from 1894 to 1897. He served another 6 months as Mayor when the next Mayor, Alderman Husband, died in office.

 


In June 1897, Richard heard from the Prime Minister, Lord Salisbury, that Queen Victoria had been pleased to confer on him the honour of knighthood. On 18th August he travelled across the Solent on the royal yacht "Alberta" to Osborne House, where he was knighted by the Queen.

 


On 28th March 1914, after some years of failing health, he died, aged 62.