Abraham England
Encyclopedia
Abraham England was a British Liberal
politician, businessman and soldier.
, near Nelson
in Lancashire
and pursued a business career in Manchester
. He joined the Territorial Force
as a volunteer and during the First World War he served in Egypt, Gallipoli, France and Belgium. He was mentioned three times in dispatches and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
in 1918 and was made a CMG
two years later In 1922 he commanded the East Lancashire Divisional Train, Royal Army Service Corps
and was honorary Colonel of the formation from 1923-1933.
held seat at Heywood and Radcliffe
fell vacant as the sitting MP, Albert Illingworth went to the House of Lords. England was adopted as Coalition Liberal candidate and faced a three-cornered contest with Labour and an Independent Liberal supported by H H Asquith. There was doubt at first as to whether the Asquithian Liberals would put up a candidate as many Liberals in the north-west were anxious to avoid the wounds of an open clash with the Lloyd George
coalition Liberals. All three candidates professed to be supporters of Free Trade so for the coalition campaign the main election issue was the avoidance of class war and Lloyd George emphasised this in his public letter of support to England. In his election address England said the issue was whether the country wished to submit to will of an extremist minority. Notwithstanding this attack, the result was a Labour gain, albeit by the narrow majority of 305 votes. The successful candidate, Walter Halls of Nottingham was said to have profited from the breakdown of talks in Manchester over wages in the cotton trade which threatened the employment and livelihoods of many of the local people. Halls received 13,430 votes to England’s 13,125. The Independent Liberal received 5,671.
as a National Liberal (indicating his continued support for Lloyd George), but attracting no Conservative or other Liberal opponent, beating Halls. In return England voted with the Conservative government much more often than against it in the 1922-23 Parliament prompting one historian to describe him as a Conservative in all but name. He stood in 1923
as a plain Liberal, again without Conservative opposition and again defeated Walter Halls. England was one of ten Liberal MPs who defied the party whip and voted against putting Labour into office following the outcome of the 1923 election and during the period of the first Labour government, England voted with the Conservatives on a number of issues.In October 1924, the Heywood and Radcliffe Conservatives announced they would be supporting England at the forthcoming general election. During the Liberal turmoil which followed the formation of the National Government in August 1931 and the split in the party over whether to continue giving it support which occurred in October that year, England was on the side of the National Liberals led by Sir John Simon. Despite his support for the National Government however, the Tories determined to fight Heywood and Radcliffe themselves at the 1931 general election
. In the face of this, England reluctantly decided to stand down to prevent the splitting of the National vote and to avoid the risk of defeat.
group in the House of Commons. This group came increasingly to be associated with the Conservatives. It changed its name to the Liberal Nationals in 1948 and eventually merged with the Tories in 1968. In 1934, despite his National Liberal past, England was elected president of the Manchester Reform Club.
aged 81.
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician, businessman and soldier.
Early life
Abraham England was born at BarrowfordBarrowford
Barrowford is a large village and civil parish in the Pendle district of Lancashire, England. It is situated to the north of Nelson on the other side of the M65 motorway, and forms part of the Burnley/Nelson conurbation. It also comprises the area of Lowerford and sometimes gets confused with its...
, near Nelson
Nelson, Lancashire
Nelson is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Pendle in Lancashire, England, with a population of 28,998 in 2001. It lies 4 miles north of Burnley on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal....
in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
and pursued a business career in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. He joined the Territorial Force
Territorial Force
The Territorial Force was the volunteer reserve component of the British Army from 1908 to 1920, when it became the Territorial Army.-Origins:...
as a volunteer and during the First World War he served in Egypt, Gallipoli, France and Belgium. He was mentioned three times in dispatches and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
in 1918 and was made a CMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
two years later In 1922 he commanded the East Lancashire Divisional Train, Royal Army Service Corps
Royal Army Service Corps
The Royal Army Service Corps was a corps of the British Army. It was responsible for land, coastal and lake transport; air despatch; supply of food, water, fuel, and general domestic stores such as clothing, furniture and stationery ; administration of...
and was honorary Colonel of the formation from 1923-1933.
Entry into politics
In 1921 the Coalition LiberalCoalition Government 1916-1922
The Coalition Government of David Lloyd George came to power in the United Kingdom in December 1916, replacing the earlier wartime coalition under H.H. Asquith, which had been held responsible for reverses during the Great War. Those Liberals who continued to support Asquith served as the Opposition...
held seat at Heywood and Radcliffe
Heywood and Radcliffe (UK Parliament constituency)
Heywood and Radcliffe was a county constituency centred on the towns of Heywood and Radcliffe in South Lancashire. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system.-History:Under the Representation of...
fell vacant as the sitting MP, Albert Illingworth went to the House of Lords. England was adopted as Coalition Liberal candidate and faced a three-cornered contest with Labour and an Independent Liberal supported by H H Asquith. There was doubt at first as to whether the Asquithian Liberals would put up a candidate as many Liberals in the north-west were anxious to avoid the wounds of an open clash with the Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
coalition Liberals. All three candidates professed to be supporters of Free Trade so for the coalition campaign the main election issue was the avoidance of class war and Lloyd George emphasised this in his public letter of support to England. In his election address England said the issue was whether the country wished to submit to will of an extremist minority. Notwithstanding this attack, the result was a Labour gain, albeit by the narrow majority of 305 votes. The successful candidate, Walter Halls of Nottingham was said to have profited from the breakdown of talks in Manchester over wages in the cotton trade which threatened the employment and livelihoods of many of the local people. Halls received 13,430 votes to England’s 13,125. The Independent Liberal received 5,671.
Parliamentary career
England did not give up on his political career however, nor did he desert Heywood. He stood again at the 1922 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1922
The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John...
as a National Liberal (indicating his continued support for Lloyd George), but attracting no Conservative or other Liberal opponent, beating Halls. In return England voted with the Conservative government much more often than against it in the 1922-23 Parliament prompting one historian to describe him as a Conservative in all but name. He stood in 1923
United Kingdom general election, 1923
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
as a plain Liberal, again without Conservative opposition and again defeated Walter Halls. England was one of ten Liberal MPs who defied the party whip and voted against putting Labour into office following the outcome of the 1923 election and during the period of the first Labour government, England voted with the Conservatives on a number of issues.In October 1924, the Heywood and Radcliffe Conservatives announced they would be supporting England at the forthcoming general election. During the Liberal turmoil which followed the formation of the National Government in August 1931 and the split in the party over whether to continue giving it support which occurred in October that year, England was on the side of the National Liberals led by Sir John Simon. Despite his support for the National Government however, the Tories determined to fight Heywood and Radcliffe themselves at the 1931 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1931
The United Kingdom general election on Tuesday 27 October 1931 was the last in the United Kingdom not held on a Thursday. It was also the last election, and the only one under universal suffrage, where one party received an absolute majority of the votes cast.The 1931 general election was the...
. In the face of this, England reluctantly decided to stand down to prevent the splitting of the National vote and to avoid the risk of defeat.
National Liberal
Outside Parliament he continued to support the Simonite Liberals and in 1932, he became a founder member of the National Liberal Council, the body set up to support the National LiberalNational Liberal Party (UK, 1931)
The National Liberal Party, known until 1948 as the Liberal National Party, was a liberal political party in the United Kingdom from 1931 to 1968...
group in the House of Commons. This group came increasingly to be associated with the Conservatives. It changed its name to the Liberal Nationals in 1948 and eventually merged with the Tories in 1968. In 1934, despite his National Liberal past, England was elected president of the Manchester Reform Club.
Marriage & death
In 1895 England married Lucie Dunkerley. He died at his home near SouthportSouthport
Southport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. During the 2001 census Southport was recorded as having a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England...
aged 81.