George Holloway (politician)
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George Holloway (1825 – 20 August 1892) was a British Conservative Member of Parliament representing Stroud who was elected to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom on 10 July 1886.[1]
A clothing manufacturer, he was once the largest employer in Stroud. George with his brother Henry arrived in Stroud in 1849 and, in conjunction with Mathew Crowe, ran a clothing wholesale manufacturing business at 60/61 High Street, Stroud Glos – the business later moved to Threadneedle Street where the new, revolutionary steam-powered sewing machine was introduced. The business continued to prosper with branches in London, Liverpool and Bristol and in 1920, a very well fitted new factory was built at Brickrow in Stroud. George was regarded as a great benefactor to the town.
He was a J.P., and the man who brought sewing machines and ready-to-wear clothing to England. The Original Holloway Friendly Society Limited was founded in 1875 by George Holloway and was the first to offer disability insurance in the UK.
He was an agriculturalist with a 1,000-acre (400 ha) farm at Temple Guiting in North Gloucestershire, he gave generously to Stroud and the local Hospital, School of Art, the Church and the Library.