The Muspratt family came to Liverpool from Dublin in 1822
when James Muspratt established a chemical factory in Vauxhall Road. He
prospered in the city and built a family home at Seaforth Hall, where, in 1872,
James’ grandson Max, was born. His parents were Edmund Knowles Muspratt and
Frances Jane Baines. One of eight children, his siblings included the prominent
suffragettes Nessie Stewart-Brown and Julia Solly.
Educated at Clifton College, Bristol and Zurich Polytechnic,
where he studied industrial chemistry, he joined the family business (United
Alkali Business) in 1892, becoming a director in 1901 and Chairman in 1914. In
1926 the company merged with three other companies to form I.C.I. (Imperial
Chemical Industries) and Max Muspratt remained a director until his death in
1934.
He served on Liverpool City Council from 1904 as a Liberal
and in 1910 was elected as M.P. for the Liverpool Exchange constituency.
However, his parliamentary career was short-lived as he failed to hold the seat
when a second election was held in December 1901 and in the following year he
failed to win the Bootle constituency in a by-election. He served as Lord Mayor
of Liverpool from 1916-17. He eventually left the Liberals, joining the
Conservative Party in 1926.
In the 1922 dissolution honours he was created a baronet but
the baronetcy became extinct upon his death. His son, Rudolph, pre-deceased him
and although he had had twin sons they sadly died in infancy.
From the early part of the 20th century Max
Muspratt lived in an imposing mansion, The Grange, at No. 12 Fulwood Park, his home until his death. Earlier
family homes had been at 2 Mannering Road L17 and 23 Devonshire Road L8.
