OBITUARY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 96, 25 April 1911, Page 7

OBITUARY.

♦ , MR. JOHN PASSMORE EDWARDS. By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright. LONDON, 24th April. The death i& announced of Mr. John Passmore Edwards, the -well-known journalist and philanthropist, aged 88. [Jolin Passmore Edwards, son of a Cornish carpenter, was born at Blackwater, Cornwall, in March, 1823, and to' educated at the village school. He began work as agent for the Sentinel in Manchester, and became a journalist in London in 1846. He took great interest in public questions, especially in cooperation with Cobden and Bright, and was a delegate to the International Peace Conference at Brussels .in 1848, and to similar congresses at Paris (1(349) and Frankfort-on-Main (1850). In the latter year he founded The Public 'Good, a monthly magazine, then became proprietor' of the Mechanics' Magazine and Building News, and in 1876 bought the Echo, whicn journal he edited for about twenty years. He - founded more than 70 public institutions, including hospitals, homes, and libraries. His name was chiefly associated with libraries, of which 25 owed their foundation to him. He presented upwards of 80,000 volumes to public libraries, hospitals, convalescent homes, reading rooms, <*and other institutions, erected 11 drinking fountains, and placed 32 marble busts of eminent public men in public buildings. The honorary freedom of West Ham, Falmouth, Truro, Liekeard, and East Ham were presented to him, and he twice declined the honour of knighthood. He represented Salibbury in the House of Commons from 1880 to 1885.]