John Thwaites (British politician)
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Sir John Thwaites (May 24, 1815 - August 8, 1870) was a British politician who was the first Chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works and therefore the first Leader of local government in London.
Thwaites was a native of Meaburn, Westmorland but went to London early in his life to become a draper and wool-merchant. He did business both on Oxford Street and in The Borough and became known for his work with the local community. When he discovered there was a monopoly on the supply of gas in Southwark, Thwaites set up a mutual association of businesses to get alternative and much cheaper supplies. He was made a member of more than one Vestry, which handled local government for the parish, and was also delegated to the Metropolitan Commission of Sewers from Southwark. He knew the problem of sewerage (the most pressing problem in London) well enough to write a well-received and knowledgeable pamphlet about it. Politically, Thwaites supported Parliamentary Reform and religiously he was a Dissenter.
In 1855 the Metropolitan Board of Works was established to co-ordinate work throughout London, to be composed of delegates from the Vestries. Thwaites was selected by two different Vestries to be their delegate, and his involvement across London and on the Commission of Sewers led to his election by the Board to be their Chairman on December 22, 1855. Thwaites therefore became responsible for the wholescale construction of a sewerage system, as well as street works and other infrastructure. He was fortunate in obtaining the services of Sir Joseph Bazalgette, formerly Deputy Chief Engineer to the Commission of Sewers, as the Board's Chief Engineer.
Thwaites persuaded the Government to give responsibility for the construction of the Victoria Embankment, which was part of the new drainage, to the Metropolitan Board. A Royal Commission had recommended a special body of commissioners take responsibility. The embankment was held up by delays in the construction of the Metropolitan District Railway, and eventually Thwaites went ahead without it; the railway was put in later.
When the main drainage was complete in 1865, Thwaites was given a knighthood. The Victoria Embankment was finally completed and opened in July 1870, a few weeks before Thwaites' death. Ironically, in view of his work on building London's sewerage system, Thwaites died of cholera. He was followed in the job of chairman by James Macnaghten Hogg MP.
As a Leader, Thwaites was respected but regarded as somewhat formal. He was nicknamed The Stiff'un by the Board's staff. He tried to keep involved in all aspects of the Board and insisted that those who were too infirm or too old should retire. He was described as having "a stony gaze and a sepulchral voice".