Field, William
Prominent seed merchant, grocer and tea merchant in the late 19th century whose daughter Esther Ellen married T R Ferens. Field Street, Holderness Road, Kingston upon Hull named after him
Ferens, Rt Hon Thomas Robinson (1847-1930)
Thomas Robinson Ferens was a philanthropist, industrialist and British Parliamentarian and Liberal MP for East Hull (1906-1918) and founder of the University of Hull.
Born in Shildon, County Durham on 4th May 1847 he began work on the railways aged 13 and came to Kingston upon Hull to work as a clerk for Isaac Reckitt and Sons in 1868 as a clerk and eventually became Managing Director and Chairman of Reckitt & Sons Limited.
He was noted for his generosity and gave away millions in his life time. He was more than once offered a title but refused it.
He entered parliament as Liberal member for Hull East in 1906. In the House of Commons, Ferens spoke to further the cause of Women's Rights. He supported women's suffrage at home, and repeatedly drew attention to the trafficking of women and girls in the colonies. But never a great orator, and by nature a retiring man, much of his work at Westminster was completed in the committee rooms, away from the limelight.
In 1912 he was made High Steward of Hull and was appointed to the Privy Council by King George V. He was said to have turned down a title more than once. Ferens accumulated considerable wealth, but did not live a luxurious life. He became one of the Hull's greatest benefactors.
A devout Wesleyan Methodist, Ferens made numerous charitable donations throughout his life. His gifts to Hull included the land for Hull's East Park, the Ferens Art Gallery and a donation of £250,000 for the establishment of University College (now the University of Hull). His gifts to the city totalled more than one million pounds.
He was married to Esther Ellen Field (1873-1922) and lived in Filey Parade, Holderness Road (1873-1889); Saxby House, Holderness Road (1889-1905); Wilton House, Holderness Road (1905-1909) and finally Holderness House, Holderness Road from 1909 till his death in 9th May 1930.
