Charles Leach
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Rev. Charles Leach (1 March 1847 – 24 November 1919) was a Congregationalist Minister and Liberal Party politician in the United Kingdom. He is notable as the only Member of Parliament to be deprived of his seat after being declared of unsound mind.
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[edit] Religious training
Leach was born in Illingworth, near Halifax. He was educated by a private tutor, and then went to Ranmoor Theological College in Sheffield. An adherent of the Congregational church, Leach became a Congregationalist minister; he preached in Sheffield, Birmingham, Manchester and London where he founded Queen's Park College.
[edit] Professional life
Among his other services for the Church, Leach wrote many religious texts including "Old, Yet Ever New", "Is My Bible True?" and "Sermons to Working Men". He also wrote religiously-inspired stories. In 1888, Leach, who was living in Brondesbury Road, Kilburn, stood as a Progressive candidate in Chelsea division for the London School Board. [1] He placed ninth, where there were five seats available. He also stood for Chelsea vestry in 1894 although withdrew before the poll. [2] Leaving the full-time ministry, he founded the Abstainers and General Insurance Company and became its Vice Chairman; he was made a member of the London Chamber of Commerce.
[edit] Parliamentary candidate
In April 1908 Leach was invited to contest the Colne Valley constituency as a Liberal Party candidate. A former member of the Independent Labour Party, he described himself as an "evolutionary socialist". [3] He was described by The Times as a weak candidate, but one who stood to inherit the strong Colne Valley Liberal vote, [4] and at the January 1910 general election, he defeated the Independent MP Victor Grayson.
Leach supported women's suffrage, but registered his opposition to the actions of the suffragettes. [5] He was re-elected in December 1910, when he only faced a Conservative opponent. Leach continued to preach occasionally while a Member of Parliament; he also travelled widely including to the near East, Canada and the USA. [6]
[edit] Health problem
Appointed as a Chaplain to the Armed Forces, 4th class, during the First World War, in 1915 Leach suffered a nervous breakdown, and had to move to a nursing home in London. His health declined seriously and his seat was declared vacant under the Lunacy (Vacating of Seats) Act — the only MP ever disqualified under that Act.[7] At the resulting by-election on 25 August 1916, the Liberal Frederick Mallalieu was elected to succeed him.
Leach died in 1919, aged 72.
[edit] Notes
- ^ "London School Board election", The Times, 3 November 1888.
- ^ "The Parochial Elections", The Times, 7 December 1894.
- ^ "Election Intelligence", The Times, 1 June 1908.
- ^ "Yorkshire County Pollings", The Times, 20 January 1910.
- ^ "Woman Suffrage. Members' Protest Against Organized Rowdyism.", The Times, 14 December 1911.
- ^ "New Writ for Colne Valley", The Times, 18 August 1916.
- ^ Causes of Byelections since the Reform Act
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page
- M. Stenton and S. Lees, "Who's Who of British MPs" Vol. II (Harvester Press, 1978)
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Victor Grayson |
Member of Parliament for Colne Valley 1910–1916 |
Succeeded by Frederick Mallalieu |
