Dixon, George

Epithet: Mayor of Carlisle

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000440.0x000281

Epithet: DD

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000440.0x000280

Epithet: MP; of Add MS 44424

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000440.0x000283

George Dixon was a Birmingham businessman, and local and national politician. He entered a foreign mercantile house in Birmingham in 1838, becoming a partner in 1844, and was ultimately head of the firm. He entered the Birmingham town council in 1863 and was mayor in 1866. He took an active interest in questions of popular education and was a member of first Birmingham School Board in 1870. He was re-elected in 1873 and 1876 and served as its chairman, 1876-97. He assisted in forming Birmingham Education Aid Society, and, in 1868, with Joseph Chamberlain, John Sandford (1801-1873), George Dawson (1821-1876), and Robert William Dale, the National Education League, of which he was first president, 1869. He was Liberal MP for Birmingham, 1867-76; and MP (Liberal Unionist) for Edgbaston division of Birmingham, 1885 until his death.

Reference: The Concise Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 1992).

From the guide to the George Dixon Letters, 1867-1897, (University of Birmingham Information Services, Special Collections Department)