Edwin Butterworth 1812 - 1848

Edwin Butterworth was born in Oldham in 1812. He began writing as a young man, publishing "A Biography of Eminent Natives, Residents, and Benefactors of the Town of Manchester" in 1829, aged seventeen. He went on to write for local Manchester and Leeds-based newspapers. In 1831, Butterworth became a researcher for Edward Baines' History of Lancashire, travelling extensively through the county and recording vast amounts of information. Upon the death of his brother, he took over his news agency, publishing local histories, maps and sketches. Butterworth was well-respected as a local historian, but died in difficult financial circumstances, having suffered from ill health.