The following people are or were from Batley: Joseph Priestley (1733–1804), chemist, theologian, educator, and political theorist credited with the discovery of oxygen born in Birstall and educated at Batley Grammar School. William Henry Colbeck (1823–1901), New Zealand politician born in Batley. Titus Sheard (1841–1904), American businessman and politician born in Batley. Theodore Taylor (1850–1952), businessman and politician known for his pioneering profit-sharing scheme at J. T. & J. Taylor born in Carlinghow. Louis Hall (1852–1915), cricketer for Yorkshire County Cricket Club born in Batley where he served as a councillor and Methodist lay preacher. Joseph Cookman (1899–1944), American journalist born in Batley. Hugh Garner (1913–1979), Canadian novelist born in Batley. Robert G. Edwards (1925–2013), physiologist who received a Nobel Prize for the development of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) born in Batley. Leslie V. Woodcock (born 1945), professor of chemical thermodynamics at the University of Manchester Robert Palmer (1949–2003), pop singer famous for the 1986 hit, "Addicted to Love" born in Batley. Arthur Roche (born 1950), archbishop who served as the ninth Bishop of Leeds before being appointed Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012 born in Batley Carr. Larry Hirst (born 1951), chairman of IBM Europe, Middle East and Africa between 2008 and 2010 born in Batley. Tracy Brabin (born 1961), politician and first Mayor of West Yorkshire born in Batley, served as Labour MP for Batley & Spen from 2016 to 2021. Mark Eastwood (born 1971), politician and Conservative MP for Dewsbury since 2019 grew up in Carlinghow and educated at Batley Boys High School. Jo Cox (1974–2016), politician born in Batley, served as Labour MP for Batley & Spen from 2015 until her murder in Birstall in 2016. Kim Leadbeater (born 1976), politician born in Batley, has served as Labour MP for Batley & Spen since 2021.
The following people are or were from Batley: Joseph Priestley (1733–1804), chemist theologian, educator, and political theorist credited with the discovery of oxygen born in Birstall and educated at Batley Grammar School. William Henry Colbeck (1823–1901), New Zealand politician born in Batley. Titus Sheard (1841–1904), American ,businessman and politician born in Batley. Theodore Taylor (1850–1952), businessman and politician known for his pioneering profit-sharing scheme at J. T. & J. Taylor born in Carlinghow. Louis Hall (1852–1915), cricketer for Yorkshire County Cricket Club born in Batley where he served as a councillor and Methodist lay preacher. Joseph Cookman (1899–1944), American journalist born in Batley. Hugh Garner (1913–1979), Canadian novelist born in Batley. Robert G. Edwards (1925–2013) physiologist who received a Nobel Prize for the development of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) born in Batley. Leslie V. Woodcock (born 1945), professor of chemical thermodynamics at the University of Manchester Robert Palmer (1949–2003), pop singer famous for the 1986 hit, "Addicted to Love" born in Batley. Arthur Roche (born 1950), archbishop who served as the ninth Bishop of Leeds before being appointed Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012 born in B,atley Carr. Larry Hirst (born 1951), chairman of IBM Europe, Middle East and Africa between 2008 and 2010 born in Batley. Tracy Brabin (born 1961), politician and first Mayor of West Yorkshire born in Batley, served as Labour MP for Batley & Spen from 2016 to 2021. Mark Eastwood (born 1971), politician and Conservative MP for Dewsbury since 2019 grew up in Carlinghow and educated at Batley Boys High School. Jo Cox (1974–2016), politician born in Batley, served as Labour MP for Batley & Spen from 2015 until her murder in Birstall in 2016 Kim Leadbeater (bo.rn 1976), politician born in Batley, has served as Labour MP for Batley & Spen since 2021.