Factory King
Preserved but no longer current.
The name given to Richard Oastler (1789-1861), of Bradford, who devoted his life to the betterment of factory conditions, especially to the prohibition of child-labour and to the promotion of a Ten Hours Bill.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Factory King” mean?
The name given to Richard Oastler (1789-1861), of Bradford, who devoted his life to the betterment of factory conditions, especially to the prohibition of child-labour and to the promotion of a Ten Hours Bill.
Is “Factory King” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.