Robert Spear Hudson (businessman)

Robert Spear Hudson (6 December 1812 - 6 August 1884) was an English businessman who popularised dry soap powder.

Early days

He was born in West Bromwich, Staffordshire, the third son and fourth child of John and Sarah Hudson. His father was minister at Mares Green Congregational Chapel in West Bromwich. [Lemon, p91] He intended to become a chemist and druggist and to this end served an apprenticeship with an apothecary in Bilston.Lemon, p92]

The business

In 1837 Hudson opened a shop in High Street, West Bromwich. He started making soap powder in the back of this shop by grinding the coarse bar soap of the day with a mortar and pestle. Before that people had had to make soap flakes themselves. This product became the first satisfactory and commercially successful soap powder. Despite his title of "Manufacturer of Dry Soap" Hudson never actually manufactured soap but bought the raw soap from William Gossage of Widnes.

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The business flourished both because of the rapidly increasing demand for domestic soap products and because of Hudson's unprecedented levels of advertising. He arranged for striking posters to be produced by professional artists (this was before other firms such as Pear's Soap and Lever Brothers used similar techniques).Lemon, p93] The slogan "A little of Hudson's goes a long way" appeared on the coach that ran between Liverpool and York. [ [http://www.rpsgb.org.uk/informationresources/museum/exhibitions/themotherofinvention/huds.html Royal Pharmaceutical Association] , accessed 25 June 2007] Horse, steam and electric tramcars bore an advertisement saying "For Washing Clothes. Hudson's soap. For Washing Up".

Hudson was joined in the business by his son Robert William who succeeded to the business on his father's death. In 1908 he sold the business to Lever Brothers who ran it as a subsidiary enterprise during which time the soap was manufactured at Crosfield's of Warrington. During this time trade names such as "Rinso" and "Omo" were introduced. The Hudson name was retained until 1935 when, during a period of rationalisation, the West Bromwich and Bank Hall works were closed.

Family and domestic life

Hudson married Mary Bell, a poor farmer girl who made her living selling goats milk to locals in 1854. They had 6 children. Mary died in 1860 and in 1868 Hudson married Emily Gilroy in Donnybrook, Dublin. Their Chester home, Bache Hall, was at that time situated in rural surroundings outside the city. The original house on the site had been damaged during the Civil War and, when Hudson moved in, it was a plain 18th century brick-built building of two storeys and 5 bays. During the time he lived there, Hudson made improvements including adding an Italianate porch. Hudson died unexpectedly of a heart failure Scarborough in 1884, leaving a personal estate of just under £300,000, a substantial part of which was given to churches and charities. [Lemon, pp97-98] Emily continued to live in Bache Hall until her death in 1901. [Lemon, p94] The building is now occupied by the University of Chester. [ [http://www.chester.ac.uk/health/about.html University of Chester] , accessed 25 June 2007]

Civic life

While in West Bromwich, Hudson was an Improvement Commissioner, he was on the Board of Guardians, a supporter of ragged schools and in 1849 a founder member of the West Bromwich Permanent Building Society. On moving to Chester he continued his interests in public life. Within 6 years of his arrival in the city he was appointed a Justice of the Peace. In addition to being an active Nonconformist, in politics he was a Liberal and was elected as Chairman of the Liberal Club. His interest and support for education was wide-ranging. In 1880 he was appointed as president for the Ragged and Industrial Schools and he was also the local president of the British Schools. He was a governor of The King's School, Chester (despite its Anglican ethos). Finacially he supported the newly formed Museum of Science and Art in Chester and the North Wales College Fund. [Lemon, pp94-95]

Religious life

Hudson remained an active and generous member of the Congregational (Independent) movement throughout his life. During his time in West Bromwich he was a trustee of Mayers Green Independent Church but later was a member of a group of people who seceded from this church to form a new church in the town's High Street. Moving to Chester, he was soon elected the first Chairman of the North Wales English Congregational Union, a post he held until his death. He was frequently elected as chairman or president of various voluntary organisations, not all of which were run by the church, and to which he gave financial support. His contribution frequently took the form of a "Challenge Grant" which encouraged churches and societies to also raise their own contributions. Amongst these was a contribution of £20,000 for the Jubilee Fund of the Congregational Union of England and Wales. [Lemon, pp96-97]

Notes

References

*Lemon, Nigel. 'A Blackcountryman at Bache Hall' "Cheshire History": 46, 2006-2007, pp91-103