, Liverpool.
Career Forwood's political life started in 1871 when he was elected as a city
councillor. He served as
Lord Mayor of Liverpool in 1878–79, and became effectively the leader of Liverpool's Conservatives. He stood for the
Liverpool constituency in
an 1882 by-election, but lost the Conservative held seat to the Liberal candidate. In the
general election of 1885 Forwood was returned for
Ormskirk, a seat he held until his death. In 1886
Lord Salisbury appointed him as
Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty, a post he retained until 1892. He was the first shipowner to become an
Admiralty minister. and was the first serving town councillor to be appointed to this position.
Policies and personality Forwood was "orthodox, a resolute champion of the
union and
Empire,
monarchy and
church,
Lords and
Commons", he was concerned that the Conservative leaders were "too faint-hearted or stuck up", and was worried about the "timidity" of the Liverpool merchants. He supported the establishment of an
episcopal see and a University College in Liverpool and, more generally, advocated
universal suffrage, the redistribution of parliamentary seats,
temperance reform, comprehensive
employers' liability, old age
pensions,
council housing,
public utilities and
public transport. When he was a minister, he was described as being "a hustler" and as having drive as an administrator and reformer, but he did not have "the knack of making himself popular". His manner was described as being "unvarnished" and he was "short of the instincts of a
Gentleman". Nevertheless, he was praised for his effectiveness and for his determination. == Personal life ==