 Sir John Tomlinson Brunner , 1st Baronet , PC DL ( 8 February 1842 – 1 July 1919 ) was a British chemical industrialist and Liberal Party politician . At Hutchinson 's alkali works in Widnes he rose to the position of general manager . There he met Ludwig Mond , whom he later formed a partnership with to create the chemical company Brunner Mond & Co . , initially making alkali by the Solvay process . As a Member of Parliament he represented Northwich , Cheshire , in 1885 – 1886 and then from 1887 – 1910 . He was a paternalistic employer and as a politician supported Irish Home Rule , trade unions , free trade , welfare reforms and , leading up to the First World War , a more sympathetic stance towards Germany . Brunner was a prominent Freemason , and a generous benefactor to the towns in his constituency and to the University of Liverpool . He is the great grandfather of the Duchess of Kent . 
