# Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Hingley, Benjamin

​HINGLEY, Sir BENJAMIN, first baronet (1830–1905), ironmaster, born at Cradley in Worcestershire on 11 September 1830, was youngest son of Noah Hingley (1796-1877) of Cradley Park, at one time mayor of Dudley, by his first wife, Sarah, daughter of Noah Willett of Coalbournbrook, Kingswinford. Noah Hingley, like his father before him, began life as a chain-maker in a small factory on the banks of the Stour, and ultimately founded the chain making and cable firms of Noah Hingley & Sons, and Hingley & Smith of Netherton. Benjamin, after private education, worked with his father and his elder brothers, Hezekiah (1825–1865) and George (1829–1901), in the manufacture of anchors. The introduction of the Nasmyth hammer enabled the firm to make a specialty of forgings of a large size, and the father, instead of purchasing the iron for the purpose, erected large ironworks at Netherton for the manufacture. Additional ironworks were subsequently acquired at Old Hill and Harts Hill, and the business grew until it became one of the largest and most important in the Midlands. In 1865, on the death of his brother Hezekiah, Benjamin became head of the firm, which was converted into a limited company in 1890. But Benjamin retained a controlling interest and continued in command until his death. For nearly thirty years he was chairman of the South Staffordshire and East Worcestershire Ironmasters' Association, and president of the Midland iron and steel wages board. He was also for many years a prominent member of the South Staffordshire coal trade wages board. His sense of fairness, good judgment, and scrupulous integrity rendered him an important factor in the preservation of industrial peace in the Black Country. He was also for thirty years chairman of Lloyd's British Testing Company, Limited, Netherton, chairman of the Cradley Gas Company, and a director and for some time chairman of the South Staffordshire Mond Gas Company. In 1903 he was elected president of the Mining Association of Great Britain. In 1883 he joined the Iron and Steel Institute, became a member of council in 1891 and a vice-president in 1903. In 1890 he was mayor of Dudley, and in 1900 was High Sheriff of Worcestershire.
In 1885 Hingley began a parliamentary career, being elected liberal member of parliament for North Worcestershire. He represented the constituency for ten years, but in 1886 he joined the unionist wing of his party during the home rule controversy. In 1892 he rejoined the liberal ranks. While in the House of Commons he served on numerous committees dealing with trade and commercial questions, and was specially thanked for his services on the admiralty committee on dockyard management appointed in July 1886. He retired owing to ill-health in 1895. On 8 August 1893 he was created a baronet, with special remainder, in default of issue, to his elder brother and his male issue. He died, unmarried, at his residence, Hatherton Lodge, near Cradley, on 13 May 1905, and was buried at Halesowen. The baronetcy descended to his nephew, George Benjamin Hingley, son of his brother Hezekiah. A presentation portrait in oils, by A. S. Cope, R.A., was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1901.
[Journal of the Iron and Steel Institute, vol. lxvii.; Burke's Baronetage; The Times, 15 May 1905.]
L. P. S.