Martineau family
The Martineau family is an intellectual, business (banking, breweries, textile manufacturing)[1] and political dynasty associated first with Norwich and later also London and Birmingham, England. Many members of the family have been knighted. Many family members were prominent Unitarians; a room in London's Essex Hall, the headquarters building of the British Unitarians, was named after them. Martineau Place in Birmingham's central business district was named in their honour.[2]
Harriet Martineau (1802–1876), the sociologist and abolitionist, is the family's most celebrated member.
In Birmingham, several of its members have been Lord Mayor. They worshipped at the Church of the Messiah.[3] As Unitarian, they married into families of the same denomination, such as the Kenricks and the Chamberlains,[4] though Harriet eventually became an atheist in contrast to her brother, the religious philosopher James Martineau. Several of the Martineaus are buried in Key Hill Cemetery Birmingham, either in the family vault or separately.[5]
Sir Philip Hubert Martineau and family[edit]
Son of Hubert Martineau (1821–1890) and great-great-grandson of David Martineau II (1726–1768), Philip was born in London in 1862 and was knighted in 1933 for his work as president of the Law Society of England and Wales. He was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge University. He was also a cricketer who played for Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). He married Alive Vaughan-Williams (1865–1956) in 1888. An author, Lady Martineau published books on garden design. Sir Philip died in 1944. Their son, Hubert (1891–1976) was also a cricketer and organiser of his own team. He attended Eton.[115][116][117][118][119][120]
National and international interests[edit]
The intermarried Martineau and Lupton clan counted many aldermen and lord mayors, in both Birmingham and Leeds respectively, amongst their kin. Their Unitarian faith and Liberal (Unionist) political beliefs resulted in their combined commitment to many national concerns. For example, in the early 20th century, Sir Raymond Unwin's concept of the garden suburb greatly interested Robert Francis Martineau and his second cousin, Francis Martineau Lupton, both of whom were Aldermen.[121][122]
International issues were also of great concern to the family; Robert Francis Martineau welcomed the abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison to his home when the American visited Birmingham on 7 July 1877 and two days later, Martineau's relative, Joseph Lupton, had Garrison as a guest at his Leeds house from 9–15 July.[123]
Members included five generations, father to son, of Mayors or Lord Mayors of Birmingham:[124]
A blue plaque, erected in 2008 by the Birmingham Civic Society in the Council House, commemorates all five.[126]
