Joshua Walmsley

The son of John Walmsley, an architect, builder and marble mason,[1] he was born in Liverpool on 29 September 1794, and educated at Knowsley, Lancashire, and Eden Hall, Westmorland.

He was an early advocate of the repeal of the duty on corn, and was afterwards an active worker with Richard Cobden, John Bright, and others in the Anti-Cornlaw League.

At about the same time Walmsley got to know George Stephenson, in whose railway schemes he was interested, and with whom he joined in purchasing the Snibstone estate, near Ashby-de-la-Zouch, where rich seams of coal were found.

He was elected a member of the Liverpool town council in 1835, and worked to improve the police, sanitation and education of the city.

He was one of the 49 founder members of the historic Liverpool Chess Club in 1837 which was situated in the Lyceum building on Bold Street.