Edward Brotherton, 1st Baron Brotherton

At this time, he also attended evening classes in chemistry taught by Henry Roscoe at Owens College, Manchester.

During the time Brotherton served as Lord Mayor of Leeds, his niece, Dorothy Una Ratcliffe, took the role of Lady Mayoress.

[9] As Lord Mayor he raised the West Yorkshire Regiment (Leeds Pals) at his own expense, in return receiving the title of Honorary Colonel.

In February 1922 he attempted to buy a 15th-century Towneley manuscript of Wakefield Mystery Plays but was outbid by the American book dealer A.S.W.

His niece, Dorothy Una Ratcliffe, was so disappointed by the loss that Brotherton took her to the bookseller Bernard Quaritch where they bought a first edition of Andrew Marvell's Miscellaneous Poems instead.

Aided and encouraged by Dorothy, Brotherton continued to add to what would become a large and varied collection and later employed J Alexander Symington as librarian.

[11] In June 1930, in one of his last public acts, he laid the foundation stone for the building, at the same time announcing that he would bequeath his collection of books and manuscripts to the university.

[2] Today the Brotherton Circle honours the generosity of alumni and friends who include a gift to the University of Leeds in their will.