Edward Temperley Gourley

Sir Edward Temperley Gourley
Sunderland MP Edward Temperley Gourley.
Sunderland
In office 1868–1900
Preceded by	James Hartley
Succeeded by	John Stapylton Grey Pemberton
Personal details
Born	(1826-06-08)8 June 1826 Sunderland, County Durham, England
Died	15 April 1902(1902-04-15) Sunderland, County Durham, England
Political party	Liberal
Occupation	Shipowner
Religion	Congregationalist

Sir Edward Temperley Gourley, VD (8 June 1826–15 April 1902) was a coal fitter, shipowner and politician born in Sunderland, England. He was knighted for his political work.

Edward Temperley Gourley - known as E.T. Gourley - was the eldest son of shipowner John Young Gourley and his wife, Mary Temperley. Born on the banks of the River Wear on 8 June 1826, he left school at 13 and served his apprenticeship as a coalfitter with John Halcro.

The Halcro office was one of the largest commercial businesses then in Sunderland and, under the supervision of John Halcro, Gourley acquired the rudiments of business and successful commerce. His job took him to the Netherlands and Germany, where he studied foreign trade, and, after finishing his apprenticeship, he was rewarded with a percentage of the firm's profits.

At the age of 22, Gourley went into business for himself as a ship-chandler. He was not satisfied, however, with this profession and went on to become a ship owner. His father, John Gourley, joined him in the business, as did his uncle, Edward Temperley. Working from an office in Villiers Street, Gourley expanded his business to include the exportation of coal and the importation of timber. Such was his apitutude for the business that, within a few years, he had acquired several fine ships, which were used in the Indian trade.

The Sunderland Echo later reported: "The Crimean War appears to have afforded him a fine opportunity for developing his business. At that time, when a wretched and niggardly government was starving the Tommy Atkins of that day in the trenches before Sebastopol, Sir Edward had a number of vessels engaged as transports."

Gourley went on an extended Continental tour during this period, visiting Turkey, the Crimea and Spain. It was this journey which persuaded him to favour steamers over sailing ships and, on his return, he invested heavily in steam shipping and became one of the leading shipowners in Sunderland.