group, to begin a campaign for parliamentary reform. This called for the better proportional representation in the Houses of Parliament from the rotten boroughs towards the fast-growing industrialised towns of Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and Salford. After the petition raised on behalf of the group by Absalom Watkin, Parliament passed the Reform Act 1832. Salford's first member of parliament The group's aims were achieved with the passing of the Reform Act 1832. Brotherton was elected as Salford's first Member of Parliament at the ensuing general election. He was re-elected five times, unopposed on two occasions. In parliament he campaigned against the death penalty, for the abolition of slavery and for free non-denominational education. He actively supported the Municipal Corporations Bill, which led to Manchester and Salford having democratically elected councils. He took an interest in the facilities provided by the new municipalities, and was largely responsible for the opening of Peel Park, Salford and Weaste Cemetery. Death Brotherton died suddenly from a heart attack aged 73 in January 1857, while travelling to a meeting in Manchester. He was buried on 14 January in the new Weaste municipal cemetery, Salford, the first interment at the cemetery he campaigned for, following a two and a half mile long funeral procession. A Joseph Brotherton Memorial Fund was established, and a statue of Brotherton was erected in Peel Park in 1858. The statue was dismantled in 1954 and sold into private ownership in 1969. At the time Salford City Council were looking for any additional revenue and it sold the statue to a scrap metal merchant. He was aware of the rivalry between the two cities so he approached Manchester with the suggestion they might buy it. It was purchased by Manchester City Council in 1986, and was resited at Riverside Walk, overlooking the River Irwell and facing towards Salford. The effect was that he was looking balefully at the city that thought so little of him as to sell his statue. It is currently being relocated onto the Salford bank of the Irwell to make way for a new footbridge linking Salford to the Spinningfield development. References External links 1783 births 1857 deaths British reformers British vegetarianism activists Christian vegetarianism English Swedenborgians Liberal Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Salford People from Old Whittington People from Salford UK MPs 1832–1835 UK MPs 1835–1837 UK MPs