Birmingham Town Council
He was a close friend of Joseph Chamberlain and supported the radical group around Chamberlain in developing local improvement schemes in Birmingham, parks, and what at the time was called 'gas-and-water socialism'. He took over practical management of the education committee and served as Mayor of Birmingham in 1878-1879. He was responsible for free libraries in Birmingham and was the original proponent of the Birmingham Art Gallery funded from the profits of the gas company.
Read more about this topic: Jesse Collings
Famous quotes containing the words town and/or council:
“You should study the Peerage, Gerald. It is the one book a young man about town should know thoroughly, and it is the best thing in fiction the English have ever done.”
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)
“There by some wrinkled stones round a leafless tree
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Twelve ragged men, the council of charity
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