Palmer, George (1818-1897), biscuit manufacturer.
"While mourning Mr Palmer's loss we cannot but be thankful to Almighty God for sparing his life so long, enabling him to accomplish so many munificent acts for the benefit of his fellow men - benefits which will extend to future generations and perpetuate the memory of their worthy founder". Letter written by
employees of the factory on George Palmer's death in 1897.
Born in Long Sutton, Somerset, of a Quaker family in 1841 he went into partnership with his cousin Thomas Huntley (1802–1857), owner of a Reading biscuit firm, founded in 1822. With the technical help of a Reading engineer, William Exall, in 1846 Palmer invented the first continuously running biscuit machinery in the world, which was set up at a factory in Kings Road. Celebrity customers bought Huntley and
Palmer's biscuits, including Viscount Sidmouth, and the firm gained a Royal Warrant in 1867, though deliveries to Windsor castle had begun far
earlier than this. By 1857 the annual turnover of the company was £125,000, as against
£2,700 in 1841. As time went on it became the largest business in Reading and the firm was far too large for Palmer to know every worker by name as he used to do. Reading became nicknamed ‘Biscuit Town’ and by 1900 Huntley and Palmers were the largest biscuit manufacturer in the world.
He also had an active political career. From 1850 he became a liberal councillor in Reading, serving as mayor from 1857-8. He pushed through the founding of a school Board in Reading as well as being active in improving public sanitation in the town. From 1878-1885 he was MP for Reading and in his maiden speech he supported granting votes to women. He was also famous for his generosity, giving to the people of Reading the forty-nine acre Palmer Park and the Thames-side Kings Meadow. He was a strong
supporter of moves to preserve the remains of Reading Abbey and the Forbury for future generations. He also made many donations to Reading University College, Reading School, the Royal Berkshire Hospital, and other local charities. In 1865 he purchased the Acacias in London Road which was to be his Reading house for the rest of his life, from where he would walk to work at the factory every morning. On these walks he would often encounter Martin Hope Sutton going to his premises and they would discuss business and
have friendly banter. His statue still stands in Palmer Park.
Link to the Dictionary of National Biography (only from a Library terminal).
George Palmer
You can find out more about Huntley and Palmers and their importance to Reading and the world at the
Huntley and Palmers Reading
Museum's
website. You can also play a game in which you act as George Palmer in trying to become a Biscuit Millionaire.
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