ROBERT RESCHILD STANLEY

Robert Reschid Stanley (1828–1911) was a prominent Victorian figure, most notable for being one of the first recorded working-class mayors in England and for his late-life conversion to Islam.

His story is a fascinating look at the intersection of British working-class history and the early growth of Islam in the UK.

Civic and Political Life

Born in Cardiff and moved to Stalybridge (near Manchester) as a child, Stanley was a self-made man who began his career as a grocer and tea trader.

• Mayor of Stalybridge: He served as the Mayor of Stalybridge from 1874 to 1876. He was known as a "man of the people," advocating for the rights of working-class men and progressive municipal reforms.
• Political Controversy: In 1876, he sparked a national debate when he refused to call a public meeting to condemn the "Bulgarian Atrocities" committed by the Ottoman Empire. He believed the outcry was being fueled by Russian propaganda, signaling his early sympathy for the Ottomans.
• Public Service: He served as a magistrate and was a key figure in building local infrastructure, including the Victoria Market (now Stalybridge Civic Hall) and local reservoirs.

Conversion to Islam

In 1898, at the age of 69, Stanley officially converted to Islam. He took the name Reschid and became a close friend of William Abdullah Quilliam, the founder of Britain's first mosque in Liverpool.

• Leadership: He served as the Vice-President of the Liverpool Muslim Institute.
• The Ottoman Connection: He corresponded directly with the Ottoman Caliph, Sultan Abdul Hamid II, offering advice on agricultural and military matters.
• The "Hidden" History: For nearly a century, his conversion was largely kept a secret by his descendants. It was only "rediscovered" in 1999 when his great-great-grandson, Brian Longden, began researching the family tree.

Legacy and "Synchronicity"

One of the most remarkable parts of the Stanley story is what the family calls "synchronicity." Around the same time his descendants were discovering Robert's Islamic faith, his great-great-great-grandson, Steven Longden, had already converted to Islam (in 1991) without knowing anything about his ancestor’s history.

"Robert was always 'his own man,' a Victorian who refused to follow the crowd, whether in politics or faith." — Christina Longden (his great-great-great-granddaughter and biographer)

Google Gemini AI

27 January 2026: 8.02 p.m