Stanley Holmes, 1st Baron Dovercourt

The Right Honourable
The Lord Dovercourt
Chairman of the National Liberal Party
In office
1946–1947
Preceded by James Henderson-Stewart
Succeeded by John Maclay
Member of Parliament
for Harwich
In office
14 November 1935  18 January 1954
Preceded by John Pybus
Succeeded by Julian Ridsdale
Member of Parliament
for North East Derbyshire
In office
14 December 1918  15 November 1922
Preceded by George Robert Harland Bowden
Succeeded by Julian Ridsdale
Personal details
Born Joseph Stanley Holmes
31 October 1878
Marylebone, Middlesex
Died 22 April 1961(1961-04-22) (aged 82)
Marylebone, London
Nationality British
Political party National Liberal
Other political
affiliations
Liberal
Spouse(s) Eva Gertrude
Alma mater City of London School

Joseph Stanley Holmes, 1st Baron Dovercourt (31 October 1878 – 22 April 1961) was a British chartered accountant, businessman and Liberal Party politician, who later served as a Liberal National Member of Parliament.

Background and education

Holmes was born in Marylebone, Middlesex, the son of Horace G. Holmes, JP. He was educated at the City of London School.[1]

Career

Holmes was a chartered accountant and company director. He served as vice-president of the Building Societies Association and was a member of the London County Council 1910 to 1919. He was elected Liberal Member of Parliament for North East Derbyshire at the 1918 general election, but narrowly lost the seat at the 1922 general election.[2] The initially declared majority was only 5 votes, and an electoral petition was lodged. The petition was dismissed when a recount found a higher majority of 15.[2]

Holmes then stood unsuccessfully in Dunbartonshire at the 1923 general election,[3] and in Cheltenham at the 1924 election.[4] He finally returned to the House of Commons after a thirteen-year absence at the 1935 general election, when he was elected for Harwich as a Liberal National.[5] He held the seat until 1954, sitting later as a 'National Liberal and Conservative'. He introduced as Private Member's Bills the Inheritance (Family Provision) Act 1938 and the Coast Protection Act 1939. On 18 January 1954 he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Dovercourt, of Harwich in the County of Essex.[6]

Personal life

Lord Dovercourt married Eva Gertrude, daughter of Thomas Bowley, in 1905. He died in Marylebone, London, in April 1961, aged 82. The barony became extinct on his death.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 thepeerage.com Joseph Stanley Holmes, 1st and last Baron Dovercourt
  2. 1 2 Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 324. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
  3. Craig, op. cit., page 622
  4. Craig, op. cit., page 115
  5. Craig, op. cit., page 352
  6. "No. 40078". The London Gazette. 19 January 1954. p. 447.
Party political offices
Preceded by
James Henderson-Stewart
Chairman of the National Liberal Party
19461947
Succeeded by
John Maclay
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
George Robert Harland Bowden
Member of Parliament for North East Derbyshire
19181922
Succeeded by
Frank Lee
Preceded by
John Pybus
Member of Parliament for Harwich
19351954
Succeeded by
Sir Julian Ridsdale
Peerage of the United Kingdom
New creation Baron Dovercourt
1954–1961
Extinct

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