Gladstone, John, c 1843-1847

From a typed note pasted on the page: "Gladstone, Sir John, first baronet (1764-1851), Liverpool merchant; partner in Corrie & Co.; despatched first vessel to Calcutta on the opening up of the trade with India; became sole proprietor of his firm and took six brothers into the business; acquired large East Indian trade; became also West Indian merchant, defending (1823) the slave-trade against James Cropper [q. v.]; issued (1830) 'Statement of Facts connected with the present state of Slavery'; chief supporter of Canning at Liverpool, 1812; Canningite M.P., Lancaster, 1818, Woodstock, 1820, and Berwick, 1826-7; wrote against repeal of the corn laws, but was ultimately convinced by Peel; created baronet, 1846; benefactor of religious and charitable institutions at Leith and Liverpool. [xxi. 405]".