Born: Samuel Alexander Sadler was born 1842 near Oldbury in Worcestershire. His parents were James Sadler and Mary Millership
Educated: It has been said that Samuel Sadler studied at London University under Michael Faraday.
Married: In 1865 Samuel Sadler married Rachael Field, daughter of John Field and Mercy Sadler of Oldbury. John and Mercy Field had another daughter, also called Mercy. After Rachael’s death, Samuel Sadler married her sister Mercy in 1874.
Family: Samuel and Rachael had three children: Percy, Cecil and Winifred. Stanley and Mercy had four children: Stanley, Hereward, Basil, and Gerard.
Home: When Samuel Sadler opened his Middlesbrough works, he lived in West Terrace, North Ormesby. In the 1870s he moved to the Villas, Preston-on-Tees.
Known for: In 1869 Samuel Sadler founded Sadler and Company in Middlesbrough, operating as tar and wood distillers. In 1880 he enlarged his capacity by taking over the neighbouring works, and later he opened similar works in Ulverston, Portsmouth, and Carlton near Stockton. Sadler and Company produced a variety of chemicals including sulphuric acid, nitric acid, ammonium sulphate, creosote, and various oils. It proved to be a highly profitable business for its founder. Away from business, he became Honorary Colonel of several volunteer battalions of the Durham Light Infantry. Colonel Sadler was a Middlesbrough councillor from 1873 and was the town’s mayor three times. From 1900 to 1906 he was the Conservative M.P. for Middlesbrough. He was knighted in 1905.
Died: Colonel Sir Samuel Alexander Sadler died at his villa in Eaglescliffe on 29th September 1911 and was buried at Ormesby.
Further Information: “Who Was Who in 19th Century Cleveland” David M. Tomlin and Mary Williams (1987)
“Victorian Eaglescliffe” Malcolm Wilkinson (2002)
“The Story Behind the Stone: Samuel Sadler” M. Williams CFHS Journal vol. 4 no. 3 1989