Born in North Shields, Northumberland, in about 1804, Henry Mort (c.1804-1885) was Master Cutler in 1847.  Leader (1905-6)¹ has nothing to say about him and Mort appears to have been one of the more obscure holders of the office.  By 1833, he was based in Castle Hill, where he manufactured (or sold) saws, edge tools, shoe and butchers’ knives.  He lived in Gell Street Terrace.  His partner was Albert Furniss (also associated with Hiram Cutler), but this partnership was dissolved in 1835.  Mort’s Castle Hill enterprise was named Phoenix Works.  He was in business briefly with John Staniforth – as Mort, Staniforth & Co – though this was dissolved in 1853.  In 1858, Mort assigned his estate and effects to pay creditors.  

The Morts lived at Thorn Bank, Ecclesall Road.  Henry’s son had entered the trade by 1859, as Charles Henry Mort & Co at Phoenix Works, Carver Street.  However, it was bankrupt that year.  In the 1860s, Henry Mort & Co was again listed as a manufacturer of shoe and butchers’ knives, besides steel (converted and refined) and edge tools.  The address was Solly Street.  By 1871, the family lived in Clinton Place.  Charles Henry Mort died at Westfield Terrace on 16 September 1870, aged 39, and was buried in Ecclesall.  Mort’s was listed in 1879 as simply a hardware merchant, Clinton Place.  Henry Mort died in Liverpool in July 1885, aged 81 (his wife Ann had predeceased him in 1883, aged 84).  They were interred in Ecclesall.   The business died with them.

^1. Leader, R E, History of the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire in the County of York (Sheffield, 1905-6)