Christopher Furness
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- For details of Christopher Furness, the recipient of the Victoria Cross, see Christopher Furness (VC)
Christopher Furness, 1st Baron Furness of Grantley
Born in West Hartlepool on 23 April 1852, died 10 November 1912. In 1876 he married Jane Annette Suggit, and they had one son, Marmaduke Furness, born in 1883. In 1891, Christopher Furness was elected Member of Parliament for Hartlepool. He lost the seat in 1896, but was re-elected in 1900, and served until 1910. He was knighted in 1895, and made Honorary Freeman of West Hartlepool in 1909. In 1910 he was made Baron Furness of Grantley.
Began as a buyer in Thomas Furness and Company wholesale provision merchants owned by his older brother, He was made a partner two years later In 1877, the firm bought several steam ships from local shipbuilder William Gray. This was Christopher’s idea. Stock for the business had to be brought in by ship, and it was cheaper to use their own vessels, than hire other peoples. Christopher Furness and Company was formed in 1882 when the business was split into two. Thomas kept the provision merchants, while Christopher took charge of the shipping fleet. After 7 years as a partner in the shipbuilding firm of Edward Withy and Company. He merged it with his own company in 1891, to form Furness, Withy and Company. By a series of mergers, his firms become the main employers in Hartlepool, until they finally closed in the 1980s.