John Emanuel Lightfoot 1802 - 1893

John Emanuel Lightfoot was born in 1802 in Gisburn, Lancashire, to John Lightfoot, an exciseman and Ann Lightfoot. He attended school in Great Harwood, before becoming a handloom weaver. He continued to build on his education at home, as his father was known for his mathematical knowledge. The family moved to Accrington, where Lightfoot joined the calico printing firm Hargreaves and Dugdale at Broad Oak works.

In March 1821, Lightfoot took on the post of chemist at Hargreaves and Dugdale, aged only 19, with responsibility for managing the company's colour-making department. Lightfoot was tutored in chemistry by John Hargreaves, who had himself been taught by the distinguished scientist John Dalton. Lightfoot became known as a skilled chemist, responsible for several innovations within his department. This work included adapting the process of "rainbowing", printing stripes of several colours at once, with the edges of blended, from the world of paper printing to textiles. Other successes were creating a fast indigo green dye and adapting processes for working with oil or grease in preparing cloth for Turkey Red dye.

Alongside his skill as a chemist, Lightfoot was known as good business manager. After nearly 21 years at the company, he was offered shares in the business. In 1855, Broad Oak works changed hands, becoming known as F. W. Grafton and Co. Lightfoot continued to work successfully in partnership with Frederick Grafton and his son, before running for the town council in Accrington's first elections in 1878. Following success in becoming his ward's representative, Lightfoot became Accrington's first mayor.

Lightfoot died in 1893. The local newspaper printed an extensive account of his life, noting his successes in chemistry and business, as well as his contributions to philanthropy and public life. The family continued to be involved in dyeing and chemistry. John Emanuel Lightfoot's son, John Lightfoot (1832 -1872) published 'The Chemical History and Progress of Aniline Black' in 1871, and his grandson Thomas Edwin Ryder Lightfoot became an analytical chemist.