Sir Frederick Wigan, 1st Baronet, J.P., D.L (4 October 1827 – 2 March 1907)[1] of Clare Lawn in Mortlake, Surrey and of Purland Chase in Ross, Herefordshire, was a hops merchant based at Southwark, in Surrey, near the south end of London Bridge. He was also a director of the North London Railway[1] and had business interests in several water supply companies[2] and in the brewers Samuel Allsopp & Sons[3] Bass, Ratcliff and Gretton[4] and Worthington and Co.[5] He was also a collector of orchids.[6]
Wigan was born in East Malling, Kent, the son of a hop merchant. He married Mary Harriet Blunt at Mortlake in April 1857[7] and the couple had ten children.[1] He was appointed High Sheriff of Surrey in 1894[8] and knighted that year.[9] In 1898, he was made a baronet.[10]
Wigan became a member of the St Saviour's Collegiate Church restoration committee 1890, which oversaw the rebuilding of the nave by the architect, Arthur Blomfield.[11] He donated two carved oak screens, designed by Blomfield,[12] as well as two windows by Charles Eamer Kempe to the church.[13] In 1905, the building became Southwark Cathedral and Wigan was appointed Treasurer of the chapter.[1] The year after his death, a sculpted bust was installed in the south transept.[14] A chalice and paten were presented to the cathedral in Wigan's memory by his niece in 1910.[15]
Sir Frederick was succeeded as baronet by his son, Frederick William Wigan, who died at his home, Windlesham Court, on 6 April 1907, just over a month later.[16]