Edward Withy

Edward Withy (c. 1844 – 26 March 1927) was born in Bristol, England and in 1869 co-founded a shipbuilding partnership at Hartlepool that eventually became part of Furness Withy. He sold the firm in 1884 and emigrated from England to New Zealand, where he was elected to Member of Parliament in 1887, representing the Auckland electorate of Newton. He was the father of Arthur Withy, journalist and political activist. Like his son, he was a single-taxer (i.e. land tax) and follower of Henry George.

Edward Withy was born at Bristol on 22 December 1844, of Quaker stock. He was educated at the Friends' School, Sidcot for 5½ years which he attended between 1854 and 1859. In 1858, whilst at Sidcot, he was one of three boys sent in successfully for the first Cambridge Junior local Examination ever held. The University records show that his Pass at the age of 14 included Pure Mathematics, Mechanics and Hydrostatics - an evidence of his ability and bent, and of the remarkable standard of education reached over 150 years ago, when Henry Dymond was Headmaster.

Edward Withy left Sidcot at the end of 1859 and in the summer of 1860 went to Stockton-On-Tees to learn Iron Shipbuilding at the works of Messrs. Richardson, Duck and Company, where he became a "Ship Draftsman Apprentice". Whilst away from his family in Bristol, he boarded with William Marwood, at York Street in Thornaby, Durham.

On completing his apprenticeship, in December 1865, he entered the Iron Ship-Building industry, being employed by the Stockton shipbuilder Richardson, Duck & Co., in which he was very successful. During his first two years, his employers were engaged upon contracts for the P. & O. Steamship Co., and he was placed in charge of this special work, travelling extensively in Eastern waters. This work resulted in his becoming acquainted with the managing directors, who upon the completion of the contracts made him an offer to enter their service and he soon rose to be manager of the yard. In this capacity he made a trip round the Cape to Bombay in 1867 and he spent some time in sketching and increasing his acquaintance with the work required of the steamers. In returning to England he spent a week on the Isthmus of Suez inspecting the great canal works then nearing completion.

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