Frederick Goodyear

Frederick Goodyear (1844-21 January 1937) was a businessman and local politician in Finchley, Middlesex.

Born in the parish of St Faith under St Paul's in the City of London, he established himself in business as a straw hat manufacturer. He later became a coal merchant. He continued to run the business until he was seventy-four years old.

He moved to Finchley in 1849. In 1875 he moved into a house in Fallow Corner, North Finchley, where he was spend the rest of his life.

Active in politics, for many years he was President of the Finchley Liberal Association. In 1882 he was elected to Finchley Local Board. He was to top the poll at this and every election he contested, eventually completing fifty-two years in local government.

The local board was replaced by Finchley Urban District Council under the Local Government Act 1894. Goodyear was the first chairman of the council, holding office from 1895-1900. In 1901 he was elected to Middlesex County Council to represent Finchley North and in 1913 became a county alderman. He retired from the council in 1934, aged 90.