Edward Aldam Leatham

Edward Aldam Leatham (2 August 1828 - 6 February 1900) was an English Liberal politician.

Leatham was the son of William Leatham of Heath near Wakefield, and his wife Margaret Walker. The family was part of an influential Quaker community in Yorkshire.[1] He was a scholar and published Charmione: a tale of the great Athenian Revolution in 1858. His sister married John Bright [2] and he was heavily influenced by Bright's policies.

Leatham was elected Member of Parliament for Huddersfield in 1859 but gave up the seat in 1865. In 1861 he instituted the Huddersfield College Prize Medals for history and English declamation which were awarded for the two subects in alternate years.[3] He was re-elected for Huddersfield in 1868 and held the seat until 1886. In 1875 he acquired an estate at Miserden, Gloucestershire.[4] He became High Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1891.

Leatham married Mary Jane Fowler of Melksham in 1851. His brother William Henry Leatham was MP for Wakefield and Southern West Riding.

References

  1. ^ Richard Vickerman Taylor Biographical Sketches of the Worthies of Leeds 1865
  2. ^ Wakefield Family History Sharing
  3. ^ Huddersfield and District History
  4. ^ Miserden: Manors and other estates, A History of the County of Gloucester: Volume 11: Bisley and Longtree Hundreds (1976), pp. 49-52. Date accessed: 02 March 2009

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Edward Akroyd		 Member of Parliament for Huddersfield
1859–1865		 Succeeded by
Thomas Pearson Crosland
Preceded by
Thomas Pearson Crosland		 Member of Parliament for Huddersfield
1868–1886		 Succeeded by
William Summers
Honorary titles
Preceded by
James Roberts West		 High Sheriff of Gloucestershire
1891–1892		 Succeeded by
John Reginald Yorke