BAINES, EDWARD (1774-1848), English newspaper pro prietor and politician, was born Feb. 5 1774, at Walton-le-Dale, near Preston, Lancashire, and died Aug. 3 1848. In 18or the assistance of party friends enabled him to buy the Leeds Mer cury. Provincial newspapers did not at that time possess much influence; it was no part of the editor's duty to supply what are now called "leading articles," and the system of reporting was defective. In both respects Baines made a complete change in the Mercury. His able political articles gradually made the paper the organ of Liberal opinion in Leeds, and the connexion of the Baines family with the paper made their influence power ful for many years in this direction.
Baines was an ardent advocate of parliamentary reform, and it was mainly by his influence that Macaulay was returned for Leeds in 1832; and in 1834 he succeeded Macaulay as member. He was re-elected in 1835 and 1837, but resigned in 1841. In Parliament he supported the Liberal Party, but with independent views. Like his son Edward after him, he strongly advocated the separation of Church and State, and opposed Government interference in national education. His letters to Lord John Russell on the latter question (1846) had a powerful influence in determining the action of the Government.
His Life (1861) was written by his son, Sir EDWARD BAINES (1800-9o), who was editor and afterwards proprietor of the Leeds Mercury, M.P. for Leeds (1859-74) . and was knighted in ; his History of the Cotton Manufacture (183 5) was long a standard authority. An elder son, MATTHEW TALBOT BAINES (1799-186o), was president of the Poor Law Board in 1849, and again from 1852 to 1855. In 1856 he entered the Cabinet as chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster.