Thomas Walton Mellor (3 October 1814 – 17 February 1902) was a British cotton manufacturer and Conservative politician. Early years Thomas was the third son of Thomas Mellor of Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, and his wife Mary Walton of Stalybridge, Cheshire. He was christened on 30 October 1814 at the parish church of St Michael Ashton-under-Lyne. Career He became a major "cotton master" in Ashton, and led the opposition to the costs of the town obtaining a charter of incorporation as a municipal borough in 1847. He was a magistrate for the borough of Ashton and the counties palatine of Chester and Lancaster. In 1868 Mellor was elected as Member of Parliament for Ashton-under-Lyne, describing himself as "a Conservative with Liberal tendencies". He stood down from parliament in 1880. Family life He married Jane Leigh of Compsall Bridge in 1849 and they had a son, John Edward. Death Mellor died at Ashton-under-Lyne 17 February 1902. References External links 1814 births Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies UK MPs 1868–1874 UK MPs 1874–1880 1902 deaths Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Ashton-under-Lyne