| Colonel Richard Pilkington | |
| Honorific-Suffix: | CB |
| Constituency Mp: | Newton |
| Term Start: | 16 January 1899 |
| Term End: | 7 February 1906 |
| Predecessor: | Thomas Wodehouse Legh |
| Successor: | James Andrew Seddon |
| Birth Date: | 17 January 1841 |
| Birth Place: | St Helens, Lancashire |
| Nationality: | British |
| Spouse: | Louisa Sinclair |
| Party: | Conservative |
Richard Pilkington (17 January 1841 – 12 March 1908) was a British Conservative politician and member of the Pilkington glass-manufacturing family.
He was the second son of Richard Pilkington of Windle Hall near St Helens, Lancashire. In 1858/59 he became a partner in the family glassworks.[1]
In 1863 he married Louisa Sinclair and in 1885 he bought the Rainford Hall estate, commissioning James Medland Taylor to build a new house. The building is in the Jacobethan style, of red brick with sandstone dressings.[2]
He became a member of St Helens Borough Council, holding the office of mayor in 1881, 1896, 1897 and 1898.[3] [4] By this time he held the rank of lieutenant-colonel, in the Volunteer Force and commanded a battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment.[5] In December 1898 he was selected as the Conservative candidate for a by-election in the Newton constituency. He had previously been considered a Liberal Unionist. As the only candidate nominated he was elected unopposed on 16 January 1899.[6]
Pilkington held his seat at the subsequent general election in 1900, but was defeated in 1906 by a Labour candidate.[7] [8]
Richard Pilkington died on 12 March 1908, aged 67. A condition in his will forbade the inheritors of his estate from permitting the construction or use of any building for the sale of intoxicating liquor.[9]