John Maberly

John Maberly (1770–1839) was a British businessman and Member of Parliament. John Maberly was born in London in 1770, the second child of London currier (leather finisher) Stephen Maberly and Mary (née Boot) Maberly. In 1796 he married Mary Rose Leader, the sister of William Leader, with whom he was to have six children. After originally joining his father in the family business, a large legacy in 1798 from his father-in-law enabled him to branch out on his own as a very successful military contractor, supplying uniforms to the Army. In 1811 he purchased the large Broadford linen works in Aberdeen. Around this time he also formed an alliance with steam engine pioneer Jabez Carter Hornblower, who had designed an improved steam engine. Sued by James Watt and Matthew Boulton for breach of Watt's extensive patents, their business soon foundered. In 1813 he remarried, this time to Anne Baillie, with whom he had a further five children. In May 1816 he was elected to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom as MP for the Tory-sponsored seat of Rye. He subsequently returned as MP for Abingdon, Berkshire, in 1818, 1820, 1826, 1830 and 1831. His growing fortune enabled him to acquire a country estate at Shirley Park in Croydon, Surrey and a large London town house, St John's Lodge, in Regent's Park (1826). He became an enthusiastic huntsman: the Old Surrey Foxhounds, of which he was Master for eight years (1812–20), were kennelled at Shirley.