Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Brass Crosby 1725 - 1793

Brass Crosby was born in Stockton-on-Tees to Hercules, a respectable Burgess of the Borough, and Mary.

After a good education locally he went to Sunderland to work for a solicitor there, and then went down to London, as Stockton's own Dick Whittington to seek fame and fortune.

He served several years as an attorney and rapid succession became a member of the common council of Tower Ward, the City Remembrancer, Sheriff of the City of London, Alderman of Bread Street Ward, MP for Honiton and in 1770 was elected as Lord Mayor of London. When sworn in as Lord Mayor he assured his fellow citizens that "at the risk of his life he would protect them in their just rights and privileges.

Being Lord Mayor meant that he was also Chief Magistrate. He had already made his name by standing up to the naval press gangs by refusing to back the press warrants and urging the use of the City Bounty instead. In this way the navy recruited the men that really wanted to serve, and they were paid properly for doing so.

In 1771 a printer of a newspaper called Miller was in deep trouble with Parliament for daring to publish the proceedings of the House of Commons. Previously debates had been published under false titles such as "debates of Lilliput" and fictitious names were given to the MPs who spoke. This time the MPs had been named and they were furious. As part of a long legal wrangle a messenger was dispatched with a warrant to arrest the printer, and he was brought before Brass Crosby for sentencing. Crosby refused to do any such thing, saying that the citizens of our Country had the right to know what those who represented them and made their laws were saying and doing. Not only did Crosby refuse to punish the printer, but he charged the messenger with assault and wrongful arrest as the "general" warrant did not properly describe its power, whom it was for, or what the offence was.

Parliament was livid! Brass Crosby was taken before it. He argued that London Charters granted him the role of protecting the rights of the people, and that it was his duty to uphold these rights, and it was his first duty. He was sentenced to imprisonment in the Tower of London. King George III ordered that he be taken there by boat to avoid him being rescued on the way.

Whilst he was in the Tower there were rallies in support of Crosby and his actions, not only throughout London, but around the whole Country. Effigies of leading members of parliament were burned on Tower Hill and cups and other crockery were inscribed with slogans demanding his release. Messages of support came from many towns and cities around Great Britain.

When he was released 6 weeks later there was great jubilation - bonfires were lit, there was a 21-gun salute and his carriage was escorted by 53 others. Towards the end of its journey people replaced the horses pulling it. From that day on, verbatim reports of the House of Commons have been published, and there has never been any attempt again to stifle the freedom of the press in reporting the proceedings.

It is where the saying "Bold as Brass" originates - because Brass Crosby had the courage to stand up to the parliament of the day. We owe him a lot. Interestingly, there have never been any "general" warrants issued again since then, either.

In February 1772 he married Mrs Mary Tattersall, widow, daughter of James Maud and his sole heiress, from whom she inherited Court Lodge in Chelsfield, Kent. During the 21 years of their marriage they spent half the year in the City and half at Court Lodge. Both Brass and Mary are buried in the parish church of St Martin of Tours in Chelsfield.

When he retired as Lord Mayor he was presented with a large cup to commemorate his work, and this cup illustrates scenes from his life.  An obelisk was constructed in his honour in St George's Circus in Blackfriars Road . A number of paintings and etchings of him also exist.

He died in 1793 in Chelsfield, in the Borough of Bromley, and there is a memorial in the Church there to his honour, and a blue plaque had been erected on the house where he lived. However there is no record of anything, as yet, here in Stockton-on-Tees to pay tribute to him and the huge contribution he made to our democracy.