William John Wainwright (1855-1931) Portrait of George Muscott (1835-1932)

William John Wainwright (1855-1931) Portrait of George Muscott (1835-1932), signed and dated 1915 lower right, inscribed lower left 'Portrait of George Muscott on his 80th Birthday October IV MLCCCCXZ', oil on canvas, 122 x 92 cm, frame 155 x 125 cm

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Footnote: George Muscott (4th October 1835 – 7^th November 1932) George was registered as working as a tanner in the 1861 census in Worcestershire, before joining William Madeley's well established tanning business at Balsall Heath in Birmingham, which he rose to take over. He married three times, firstly in 1862 to Emma Madeley (1836-1869) with whom he had five children, followed by Eliza Oates (1840-1910) in 1876 and they had a son, his final marriage was to Louise Wilkins (1864-1937) in 1913. George Muscott & Sons tannery employed 15 men and 3 boys by 1881, including his own eldest son and youngest sons, Homer and Rowland William Muscott. By 1890, George is listed as living at Amington House on Tanyard Lane. The Muscotts created the first fire brigade in Acocks Green - following a large fire at their buildings on Speedwell Road in 1890. By 1900, he also employed numerous women at the Yardley tannery, mainly in the Spring, to strip and stack bark needed for the tanning process.