Bertram Stuart Straus

Bertram Stuart Straus (17 March 1867 – 26 August 1933) was a British businessman and Liberal Party politician.[1][2]

Born in Manchester, he was the son of Henry S Straus of Sedgley Park, a merchant and vice consul for the Netherlands.[1][2][3] Following education at Harrow School he was articled to Hale & Sons, colonial brokers in the City of London.[4] The company specialised in the importation of ostrich feathers, ivory, rubber, mother of pearl, drugs, gums, spices, cocoa, mica, isinglass, fibres and carpets.[5] He subsequently became a partner in the business, from which he retired in 1898.[1][6] He was later chairman of Virol Limited, manufacturers of "Virol", a malt extract based vitamin preparation.[1][7]

Straus entered politics as a member of Marylebone Vestry, and was later elected as a Progressive Party councillor to represent Mile End on the London County Council in 1898, and was reelected in 1901 and 1904.[4][8][9][10]

At the 1895 general election Straus was chosen as the Liberal candidate to contest the constituency of Marylebone West, but failed to be elected.[1] At the next general election in 1900 he stood at Tower Hamlets, St George, narrowly failing to be elected.[4] When a parliamentary by-election was held at Mile End in 1905, Straus came close to winning the seat, losing to the Liberal Unionist candidate Harry Levy-Leveson by 78 votes.[1] When a general election was held in the following year, Straus again faced Levy-Lawson at Mile End and managed to unseat him to become member of parliament.[1] Straus was only to hold the seat for a single term, with Levy-Leveson regaining it at the next election in January 1910 by 57 votes. When a further election was held in December 1910, Straus and Levy-Lawson again faced each other, with Levy-Lawson holding the seat by only 6 votes.[1]

Straus never married and died at his home at Hyde Park Mansions in August 1933, aged 66.[2] He was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "STRAUS, Bertram Stuart". Who Was Who. Oxford University Press. December 2007. http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whowaswho/U217748. Retrieved 6 June 2011. 
  2. ^ a b c "Obituary: Mr. B. S. Straus". The Times: p. 13. 29 August 1933. 
  3. ^ a b "Deaths". The Times: p. 1. 29 August 1933. 
  4. ^ a b c "Biographies Of New Members". The Times: p. 15. 25 January 1906. 
  5. ^ "Hale and Son". Whitakers Red Book. 1914. http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/wiki/Hale_and_Son. Retrieved 6 June 2011. 
  6. ^ London Gazette: no. 26976. p. 8589. 10 June 1898.
  7. ^ "Virol, Limited". Straits Times: p. 2. 29 September 1925. http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19250929.2.3.aspx. Retrieved 6 June 2011. 
  8. ^ The London County Council Elections, The Times, March 4, 1898, p.10
  9. ^ London County Council Election, The Times, March 4, 1901, p.7
  10. ^ London County Council Election, The Times, March 7, 1904, p.12

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Harry Levy-Lewson		 Member of Parliament for Mile End
1906 – Jan 1910		 Succeeded by
Harry Levy-Lewson