Alderman Robert Butcher Mather, JP (1851 – 27 July 1933), was a prominent figure in Blackpool, Lancashire, England in the late 19th and early 20th century.
He became one of the richest men in Blackpool;[1] he was a director of several businesses and owned many properties in and around the town, including The New Inn and Central Hotel, where he lived with his family for many years.
[3] His father Robert was a schoolmaster turned innkeeper who had moved to Blackpool from Preesall in the 1940s to take up a position at Baines Endowed School in Marton.
He also built and owned a large number of commercial and residential properties in Blackpool, which included the creation of Mather Street in Layton.
He was a devout Roman Catholic, known for his charitable donations, with the Church of the Sacred Heart on Talbot Road, Victoria Hospital, of which he was chairman of the board of management for many years, and the local Conservative Club being regular beneficiaries.
[11] A conservative, Mather was first elected to Blackpool Town Council in November 1891; standing as an independent candidate,[12] he defeated the incumbent Liberal representative, James Ward, by 15 votes.
[3] He later worked for Magee Marshall & Co, a brewery based in Bolton, during which time he designed many of their public houses in Blackpool.