Mark Acton

In his day the Victorian businessman Charles Seely was known as 'Pigs'. It has long been believed that this nickname was derived from his refusal to bring to an end a contract supplying the Admiralty with iron ballast when it no longer needed it. It's a great story, but that's what it is ... a story. This is the first biography of Charles Seely and the authors reveal the real reason why Seely became known as 'Pigs'. The book tells a remarkable story. Seely was a man of great ambition and enterprise and he drove hard bargains. He rose from being co-partner in a corn mill to being the owner of mines and landed estates that brought him immense wealth. The 'Baker's Boy' from Lincoln lived at a prestigious address in London and owned a beautiful country house on the Isle of Wight, where he played host to Garibaldi. An independently-minded Liberal, Seely represented Lincoln in the House of Commons for almost a quarter of a century. This book offers something of interest to all those fascinated by our Victorian predecessors.