John Hardman (MP)

John Hardman (c.1694 – 6 December 1755) was an English merchant and slave trader from Lancashire, England, who was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for Liverpool in 1754.

[3] His brother, James Hardman (c.1692–1746) was also a slave trader and married to Jane Leigh (painted by Joseph Wright of Derby).

[9] He had also organised a survey on behalf of the Liverpool merchants of the possibility of a canal to join the rivers Trent and Mersey.

[7] According to Dagnall, John Hardman had a striking appearance with "flowing locks of golden hair, curled whiskers, earrings, and curiously cut coat and waistcoat.

[4] During the American Civil War, Charles K. Prioleau, a Confederate cotton merchant from Charleston, South Carolina, and his wife—'the 'Belle of Liverpool'—rented Allerton Hall as head of Fraser, Trenholm & Co. merchants, often considered the de facto Confederate embassy in Britain.