Arthur Atherley (12 June 1772 – 1 October 1844)[1] was an English Member of Parliament, serving the Southampton constituency three times, as Whig, Liberal and Reformer.
Atherley was born in Southampton, the son of Arthur Atherley and Susanna Carter,[1] and was the fifth successive member of the Atherley family to be baptised as "Arthur".[2] He was educated at Eton College where, in 1791, he had his portrait painted by Sir Thomas Lawrence – this portrait now hangs in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.[3] At Eton, he was captain of the Ad Montem club, an institution with roots to medieval times that survived until 1847. One of the club's traditions was to take part in a procession to Salt Hill during which boys in fancy costume, the salt bearers, participated in the maintenance of their "captain" at university by levying contributions from passers-by.[3]
After finishing his education at Eton, he then went up to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was admitted a pensioner on 6 May 1790, matriculating at Michaelmas, 1791, following which he was admitted to Lincoln's Inn.[4] On 2 June 1793, he married Lady Louisa Kerr, daughter of William Kerr, 5th Marquess of Lothian; they had eight children.[1]
Atherley was four times elected to represent Southampton as M.P.; in 1806, 1812, 1831 and 1832,[5] and was one of the original members of the Fox Club. He was also a member of the family banking business in Southampton.[2] He retired from politics in 1835.[6]
He later moved to Sussex, where he served as a justice of the peace, and he died at Tower House, Brighton, in 1844, but his body was returned to Southampton and buried in All Saints' Church.[2]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by James Amyatt George Henry Rose |
Member of Parliament for Southampton 1806–1807 With: George Henry Rose |
Succeeded by Josias Jackson George Henry Rose |
| Preceded by Josias Jackson George Henry Rose |
Member of Parliament for Southampton 1812–1818 With: George Henry Rose |
Succeeded by William Chamberlayne George Henry Rose |
| Preceded by Abel Rous Dottin James Barlow-Hoy |
Member of Parliament for Southampton 1831–1835 With: John Storey Penleaze 1831–1832 James Barlow-Hoy 1832–1833 John Storey Penleaze 1833–1835 |
Succeeded by Abel Rous Dottin |