Daniel Rowlinson Ratcliff
Daniel Rowlinson Ratcliff (1837-1923) was an English lock and safe manufacturer and a Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1880.
1837 October 2nd. Born in Birmingham, the son of Joseph Ratcliff of Edgbaston, to a family of machinists and founders.
1862 Married Jane Milner only daughter of Thomas Milner
He became a partner in the safe-making firm of Thomas Milner and Son.
1865 Patent '903. To William Milner, of the Phoenix Safe Works, in Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, and Daniel Rowlinson Ratcliff, of the same place, for the invention of "certain improvements in the fastenings to be employed in metallic 'safes,' or other similar depositories."'[1]
1871 Living at Mossley Hill, Wavetree: Daniel R. Ratcliff (age 33 born Birmingham), Iron Safe Manufacturer. With his wife Jane Ratcliff (age 31 born Liverpool) and their three children; Jane M. Ratcliff (age 8 born Liverpool); Marian C. M. Ratcliff (age 5 born Liverpool); and William M. Ratcliff (age 2 born Liverpool). Four servants.[2]
1871 Patent. '1221. To Daniel Rowlinson Ratcliff, of Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, for the invention of "improvements in apparatus for locking or fastening the doors of safes, strong rooms, or other similar depositories."'[3]
1873 Patent. '3453. To Daniel Rowlinson Ratcliff, of Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, for the invention of "improvements in the construction of locks.'[4]
He was a J.P. for Worcestershire and Warwickshire.
At the 1880 general election Ratcliff was elected Member of Parliament for Evesham. His election was declared void in June 1880.
Ratcliff was living at Mansion House, Great Alne, Warwickshire with his wife Jane and several children in 1881.[3]
1889 Established Ratner Safe Co with his son William Milner Ratcliff and John M. Horner.
1923 He died at the age of 85.