Sir William Agnew, 1st Baronet

[4] In the middle of the 1860s, Agnew and his brother Thomas provided much needed financial backing to the publishing firm Bradbury and Evans, becoming partners in the business.

[5] Agnew became a Liberal member of parliament, first for South East Lancashire between 1880 and 1885 and later for Stretford from 1885 to 1886.

[6] Agnew was a prominent art dealer who amassed a large collection through his business.

[4] He sold works to and helped form the great private art collections of the age, including those of Henry Tate and Lord Iveagh.

[1][2] He also promoted many leading painters and dominated the art market for thirty years.