Last updated 13:36, Thursday, 17 April 2008

Sir Benjamin Scott (1841-1927) was one of Carlisle’s most eminent Victorians, and made a great personal contribution to the life and work of the City.

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Above and left: The court hat and suit Sir Benjamin wore when he was knighted for services to his community. Although he was a Liberal, the six-times Mayor of Carlisle was nominated for a knighthood by the Tories

The eldest son of Hudson Scott (himself brother of another Benjamin Scott who had founded Hudson Scott as a printing business in 1799), Sir Benjamin followed his uncle into the business.

In 1868 he became head of Hudson Scott and remained there until 1918 when the strain of the Great War affected his health.

He was knighted in 1904 in recognition for services to the community. Interestingly, although himself a Liberal, he had been nominated for a knighthood by the Tories.

Sir Benjamin was Mayor of Carlisle no less than six times! He stood as mayor between 1884-85, 1890-91, 1891-92, 1901-02, 1910-11, and in 1912 he completed Matthew Johnson’s term of office. In 1901 he was made mayor specifically to receive the visit of the Royal Agricultural Society to Carlisle. He was also a magistrate in both the city and the county and was made a Freeman of the City of Carlisle in 1906.

Three objects relating to Sir Benjamin’s life can be seen in the new ‘Carlisle Life’ gallery at Tullie House: the court suit worn when he was knighted in 1904; the ceremonial mallet presented to him as mayor when he laid the foundation stone of Tullie House Institute of Science, Literature and the Arts in 1892, and the highly decorative silver Freedom casket presented to him as a ‘local industrialist and Mayor’ in 1906. The casket was made by Edith and Nelson Dawson, leading designers of the Arts & Crafts movement.