John Orrell Lever

John Orrell Lever (1824 – 4 August 1897)[1] was an English shipping owner and politician who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1859 and 1885.

Lever was the son of James Lever of Manchester. He was interested in railways and shipping, being a director of the South Wales Railway and the Atlantic Royal Mail Steam Navigation Co. He was responsible for establishing Galway as a packet-station. He was the sole lessee of the Thames and Channel Passenger Service and wrote several works.[2]

In February 1859 Lever was elected at a by-election as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Galway Borough.[3] He was re-elected at the general election in May 1859,[4] but was defeated at the 1865 general election.[5]

At the 1880 general election he was re-elected for Galway,[6][5] and held the seat until 1885 general election.[1]

He was elected as a Conservative in 1859, and stood as Conservative in 1865.[5] At the 1880 election, Walker records him as a Home Rule League candidate,[5] but Debrett's in 1881 describes as a Liberal-Conservative.[2]

Lever died at the age of 73.[1]

Lever married Elizabeth Dorning, daughter of Jonathan Dorning of Swinton Lancashire in 1847.[2] She died in 1877.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "G" (part 1)
  2. ^ a b c d Mair, Robert Henry (1881). Debrett's Illustrated House of Commons and the Judicial Bench 1881. London: Dean & Son. p. 141. http://www.archive.org/stream/debrettshouseo1881londuoft#page/140/mode/1up. 
  3. ^ London Gazette: no. 22230. p. 611. 15 February 1859. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  4. ^ London Gazette: no. 22261. p. 1907. 10 May 1859. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  5. ^ a b c d Brian M. Walker, ed (1978). Parliamentary election results in Ireland 1801–1922. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. pp. 94, 96, 102, 124, 282. ISBN 0-901714-12-7. 
  6. ^ London Gazette: no. 4835. p. 2601. 20 April 1880. Retrieved 6 December 2010.

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Lord Dunkellin
2nd seat vacant since void election in 1857		 Member of Parliament for Galway Borough
1859 – 1865
With: Lord Dunkellin		 Succeeded by
Michael Morris
Sir Rowland Blennerhassett, Bt
Preceded by
George Morris
Michael Francis Ward		 Member of Parliament for Galway Borough
1880 – 1885
With: T. P. O'Connor		 Succeeded by
T. P. O'Connor