Holden

Holden, Sir Isaac (1807-1897), inventor, was born in Renfrewshire. After working in a cotton-mill, he became an assistant-teacher, and, whilst engaged in giving lessons in chemistry at Reading, discovered the principle of the lucifer match (1829). In 1846 he started a mill of his own near Paris, in conjunction with a Mr. Lister. His partner subsequently withdrew, and the works were transferred to the neighbourhood of Bradford. He first entered Parliament in 1865, but retired in 1895.