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:
“When, in some obscure country town, the farmers come together to a special town meeting, to express their opinion on some subject which is vexing to the land, that, I think, is the true Congress, and the most respectable one that is ever assembled in the United States.”
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