He was known in his time as a justice of the peace in West Yorkshire; as a Liberal radical, prominent in the Anti-Corn Law League and as a proponent of the extension of the electoral franchise and of state funded education.
He was also known for a dispute played out in the local press with Walter Hook, vicar of Leeds and a High Churchman and Tractarian; and for his writings on currency and money supply.
[4] Stansfeld was a Liberal radical, a strong advocate of the principles of free trade, and leading member of the Anti-Corn Law League, who corresponded with Richard Cobden and John Bright, and lobbied in London for the interests of the town.
The Tories made a political issue of the dispute, and in April 1840 launched a personal attack on Stansfeld, alleging his position constituted a breach of the oath he had taken as Alderman, to ...never exercise any power authority or influence which I may possess by virtue of the office of Alderman to injure or weaken the Protestant Church....
The Tories first made an indirect and oblique criticism of Stansfeld within the Council chamber; later, they organised an unsuccessful petition to the Home Secretary calling for Standsfeld's removal as Alderman.
The incident played out via letters republished in local newspapers, and reflected a concern held in the town as to whether Hook, given his High Church views, could be considered a Protestant.
Stansfeld had travelled in Europe in 1843, where he was introduced to and persuaded of the benefits of hydrotherapy as practiced by Vincenz Priessnitz in Gräfenberg, Austrian Silesia.
[4] The question of whether educational provision should be voluntary or state supported proved to be a key issue in Leeds, and in 1847 caused a split in Liberal ranks during the parliamentary election which returned (perhaps against expectations[a]) William Beckett, a Conservative; and James Garth Marshall, a Liberal whose election committee was chaired by Stansfeld.
[e] Ever since that period, this gentleman has contemplated the payment, if Providence should prosper him, of his share of the debts owing by the above firm; and just previous to his marriage, which took place a few weeks since, he sent round a circular to all his former creditors, accompanied by 20s.