John Wood

John Wood (1793–1871) was an English manufacturer in Bradford, a leading spinner of worsted. He is now remembered as a factory reformer associated with Richard Oastler, who campaigned for employment standards. Early life The son of John Wood senior (died 1832), a manufacturer in Bradford's Ivegate, he was apprenticed at age 15 to Richard Smith, a local worsted spinner. His father extended his premises, in which tortoiseshell was worked, with a steam-powered mill, where in 1815 John Wood junior went into business for himself as a spinner. Wood expanded and by 1828 employed 500 people. In 1830, a widower living at Horton Hall, he was visited by Richard Oastler, and persuaded him to look into "factory reform". Campaigner There had been a major strike by wool-combers and weavers in Bradford in 1825, a year of financial panic. Wood had been involved in mediation. It ended in defeat for attempts to unionise. Wood's outstanding concern was with issues raised by child labour. He had in 1825 asked employers to shorten the working day, without success. Naturally shy, he canvassed and attended rallies as well as financing Michael Thomas Sadler, a radical Tory Member of Parliament who backed a Ten Hours Bill.