Edwin Collier

The Reverend Edwin Collier FCA
Portrait from Fifty Years of Food Reform (1898)
Born	(1827-03-27)27 March 1827 Hulme, Manchester, England
Died	11 February 1899(1899-02-11) (aged 71) Manchester, England
Resting place	Weaste Cemetery, Salford, England
Occupation(s)	Accountant, deacon, activist
Spouse	Sarah Bennett ​ ​ (m. 1854; died 1883)​
Children	4
Relatives	James Clark (brother-in-law)

Edwin Collier FCA (27 March 1827 – 11 February 1899) was an English accountant, Bible Christian deacon, and vegetarianism activist. He served as vice president and treasurer of the Vegetarian Society. Collier also founded Edwin Collier, Tongue and Co., one of the largest accountancy firms outside of London.

Life and career

Edwin Collier was born on 27 March 1827 in Hulme, Manchester, to George Collier (1799–1866) and Margaret Collier (née Gaskill; 1802–1850). His uncle was Rev. James Gaskill (1800–1870), a minister at the Bible Christian Church in Hulme and his grandfather, Peter Gaskill, was a founding member of the church. His sister was married to Rev. James Clark, a pastor of the church. Collier was a vegetarian from birth, but was noted for being a heavy tobacco smoker. He was also a dedicated teetotaller.

Collier grew up in Hulme and attended the Bible Christian Church School. He was also educated at Rivington Grammar School.

Collier served as a cashier for manufacturers in the Huddersfield cloth trade and worked in the Treasurer's Department of the Salford Corporation. Later, he became a partner in David Chadwick MP's accountancy firm. He founded the accountancy firm E. Collier, Tongue, and Co, which became one of the largest accountancy firms outside of London. Collier was also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Collier was an active advocate for vegetarianism. He held the position of vice-president of the Vegetarian Society and was a supporter of the Health Exhibition. He advocated for a religious dimension to vegetarianism and served as a deacon in Bible Christian Church for 40 years. He was also involved in evening and Sunday schools.

The York Herald reported on the Vegetarian Society's annual meeting in Manchester on 14 October 1881, where Collier served as chairman. The Manchester Courier noted the 36th anniversary conference at the YMCA Hall in Manchester on 19 October 1883, which was presided over by Collier. The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette also mentioned his role in chairing the Vegetarian Society conference in Exeter. According to the Manchester Evening News on 14 October 1886, the annual meeting was held at the Vegetarian Restaurant in Fountain Street, Manchester, where Collier was appointed treasurer. He was also a shareholder in the Vegetarian Restaurants Co. Ltd.

Collier died on 11 February 1899, aged 71, and was interred in the Collier family grave at Weaste Cemetery. His son Bennett went on to become a chartered accountant.

Personal life

On 25 May 1854, Collier married Sarah Bennett at the Holy Trinity Church, Horwich. Sarah was born in 1832 in Lostock, Bolton, to William and Betty Bennett. The Colliers had four children, who were all vegetarian. His wife was also vegetarian. She died on 12 November 1883 at the age of 52.