Luke Thompson (politician)

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Sir Luke Thompson (18 July 1867[1] – 15 January 1941[2]) was a British coal merchant and Conservative politician.

Grave of Sir Luke and Lady Thompson.
Grave of Sir Luke and Lady Thompson.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Named after his mother's deceased younger brother, Thompson was born on Chester Road, Bishopwearmouth, the son of John Thompson (1823-1883), a coal merchant, and his wife, Catherine (née Liddell, 1826-1915). After schooling, he became a ship's draughtsman before entering into the coal trade.

[edit] Politics

In the general election of 1922, Thompson was elected Member of Parliament for the two-seat constituency of Sunderland, alongside Walter Raine. Both defeated by the Labour politicians Marion Phillips and Alfred Smith in the general election of 1929, Thompson regained the seat in a by-election in 1931, following Smith's death. He then held the seat alongside Phillips, briefly, and then with Samuel Storey. Retaining the seat after the general election of 1931, he was again defeated in the general election of 1935 by National Liberal, Stephen Furness.

Thompson was knighted by George V in 1934.[3]

[edit] Death

Thompson was accidentally killed on 15 January 1941 in Sunderland, aged 73, according to Sir Cuthbert Headlam, Bart. after "trying to work a winch and [getting] caught up in the machinery."[4] He was buried in Bishopwearmouth Cemetery, Sunderland, with his wife's parents and siblings.

[edit] Family

On 19 October 1895, Thompson married Ann Trobe Potts (1869[5]–1946) at Fawcett Street chapel, Sunderland.[6] They had two daughters, Dorothy Trobe (1896-?) and Catherine (1900-?).


[edit] References

  1. ^ Births Index, England and Wales, 1867 September quarter, volume 10a, page 472
  2. ^ Deaths Index, England and Wales, 1941 March quarter, volume 10a, page 1234
  3. ^ London Gazette: no. 34030, page 1526, 6 March 1934.
  4. ^ Parliament and Politics in the Age of Churchill and Attlee: The Headlam Diaries, accessed 4 May 2008
  5. ^ Births Index, England and Wales, 1869 September quarter, volume 10a, page 401
  6. ^ Marriage Index, England and Wales, 1895 December quarter, volume 10a, page 968
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Hamar Greenwood
and Ralph Hudson		 Member of Parliament for Sunderland
with Walter Raine
1922–1929		 Succeeded by
Marion Phillips
and Alfred Smith
Preceded by
Marion Phillips
and Alfred Smith		 Member of Parliament for Sunderland
with Marion Phillips, 1931
Samuel Storey 1931-35
1931–1935		 Succeeded by
Samuel Storey
and Stephen Furness
Non-profit organization positions
Preceded by
Sir Walter Raine		 President of the Rotary Club of Sunderland[1]
1925–1928		 Succeeded by
John H. Spark
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