Ernest Simon was a well-known and highly respected figure of the 20th century in Manchester and beyond. He was the first Baron Simon of Wythenshawe, a successful British industrialist, prominent politician, and philanthropist. Simon served as the Lord Mayor of Manchester and as a Member of Parliament for two terms. What contributions did Simon make to the development and prosperity of the city? Read on at manchesteryes.com.
Early Life of Simon
Simon was born in Didsbury, Manchester, in 1879. He grew up in a large family surrounded by wealth, love, and care. From a young age, he demonstrated a passion for knowledge, curiosity, and diligence. Simon received his early education at Rugby School and later attended Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he studied mechanical sciences.
While studying at Cambridge, tragedy struck Simon’s family: his father passed away. This forced the young Simon to leave Cambridge and return to Manchester to support his family. Upon his return, he took over the family engineering business, Simon Carves, which specialised in the production of milling equipment and coke ovens.
Simon proved to be a capable leader, identifying the business’s strengths and weaknesses and strategising its modernisation and expansion. Thanks to his focused and confident approach, Simon successfully grew the company, using the profits to build new grain silos. His early success and wealth earned him recognition, fame, and respect. This newfound prominence sparked Simon’s interest in public life and politics.
Political Career
Driven by a desire to improve the quality of life in Manchester, foster social and economic growth, and address pressing city issues, Simon became a member of the Manchester City Council. Between 1912 and 1925, he actively participated in council meetings, discussions, and decision-making to enhance various aspects of urban life. From 1921 to 1922, Simon was elected Lord Mayor of Manchester, becoming one of the youngest and most successful individuals to hold the position.
As Lord Mayor, Simon represented Manchester, supported charitable initiatives, fulfilled ceremonial duties, promoted local businesses, and communicated with the public. He played a vital role in positioning Manchester as a thriving economic and cultural centre.
Simon was not content with focusing solely on local politics. He sought to represent Manchester and its residents in Parliament. He was first elected as an MP for the Liberal Party in Manchester Withington in 1923–1924 and again in 1929–1931. During the 1930s, Simon served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health and was knighted in 1932 for his outstanding public service.
During World War II, Simon continued his work despite the challenges posed by the conflict. After the war, he stood as an independent candidate for the combined English universities seat in the 1946 by-election but was unsuccessful. Simon later joined the Labour Party.
In 1947, in recognition of his contributions to Manchester and the nation, Simon was elevated to the peerage as Baron Simon of Wythenshawe, Didsbury, Manchester. That same year, he was appointed Chairman of the BBC Governors.
Simon’s interests extended beyond politics. He was a philanthropist, donating £1,000 to establish the political magazine “New Statesman” and maintaining a long-standing collaboration with the Victoria University of Manchester.
Simon was also a member of the Court and Council from 1915 until his death. The legendary Manchester politician passed away in 1960 from a stroke.
Contributions to Manchester
Simon made significant contributions to the development and prosperity of Manchester. He aimed to improve all aspects of urban life, including political, economic, social, and cultural spheres. However, Simon is best remembered for his efforts to clear slums and implement housing projects, initiating the largest number of projects in this area during his tenure.
In 1926, Simon purchased the historic Wythenshawe Hall, a timber-framed house, and the surrounding park from Robert Henry Grenville Tatton. He then gifted them to the city. This estate, along with the associated farmland, became one of the largest housing developments in the United Kingdom.