Albert Illingworth, 1st Baron Illingworth
Encyclopedia
Albert Holden Illingworth, 1st Baron Illingworth PC (25 May 1865–23 January 1942), was a British
businessman and Liberal
politician. He served as Postmaster General
between 1916 and 1921 in David Lloyd George
's coalition government.
, the member of an old Yorkshire
family, and his wife Mary, daughter of Sir Isaac Holden, 1st Baronet. Percy Illingworth
was his younger brother. He was educated at the London International College
and became a partner in the family firm of Daniel Illingworth and Sons, spinners, and Chairman of Isaac Holden et Fils.
, a seat he held until the constituency was abolished in 1918, and then sat for Heywood and Radcliffe
until 1921. He served under David Lloyd George as Postmaster General
from 1916 to 1921 and was sworn of the Privy Council in 1916. In 1921 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Illingworth, of Denton
in the West Riding of the County of York. The territorial designation
derived from Denton Hall
which he had purchased in 1920. However, the estate was sold already in 1925. Following his elevation to the peerage the Heywood and Radcliffe constituency was won in the subsequent by-election by the Labour
candidate Walter Halls, a farm labourer employed by Illingworth.
Lord Illingworth married firstly Annie Elizabeth, daughter of Isaac Holden Crothers, in 1895. They had no children and were divorced in 1926. He married secondly Margaret Mary Clare, daughter of William Basil Wilberforce, in 1931. This marriage was also childless. Illingworth died in January 1942, aged 76, when the barony became extinct. His second wife died in 1986.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
businessman and Liberal
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. He served as Postmaster General
United Kingdom Postmaster General
The Postmaster General of the United Kingdom is a defunct Cabinet-level ministerial position in HM Government. Aside from maintaining the postal system, the Telegraph Act of 1868 established the Postmaster General's right to exclusively maintain electric telegraphs...
between 1916 and 1921 in David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
's coalition government.
Background and education
Illingworth was the second son of Henry Illingworth, of BradfordBradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
, the member of an old Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
family, and his wife Mary, daughter of Sir Isaac Holden, 1st Baronet. Percy Illingworth
Percy Illingworth
Percy Holden Illingworth was a British Liberal Party. He served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury under H. H...
was his younger brother. He was educated at the London International College
London International College
The International College in London was an early attempt at international education, operating from 1867 to 1889. It enrolled secondary-school students from a number of countries in a program aimed at fostering internationalist sentiments in its pupils...
and became a partner in the family firm of Daniel Illingworth and Sons, spinners, and Chairman of Isaac Holden et Fils.
Political career
In 1915 Illingworth was returned to Parliament for HeywoodHeywood (UK Parliament constituency)
Heywood was a county constituency in the county of Lancashire of the House of Commons for the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, it was represented by one Member of Parliament...
, a seat he held until the constituency was abolished in 1918, and then sat for 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...
until 1921. He served under David Lloyd George as Postmaster General
United Kingdom Postmaster General
The Postmaster General of the United Kingdom is a defunct Cabinet-level ministerial position in HM Government. Aside from maintaining the postal system, the Telegraph Act of 1868 established the Postmaster General's right to exclusively maintain electric telegraphs...
from 1916 to 1921 and was sworn of the Privy Council in 1916. In 1921 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Illingworth, of Denton
Denton, North Yorkshire
Denton is a hamlet and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated north east of Ilkley, West Yorkshire. Denton Hall is located in the hamlet....
in the West Riding of the County of York. The territorial designation
Territorial designation
A territorial designation follows modern peerage titles, linking them to a specific place or places. It is also an integral part of all baronetcies...
derived from Denton Hall
Denton Hall, Wharfedale
Denton Hall is an English country house located to the north of the River Wharfe, at Denton between Otley and Ilkley in North Yorkshire, England, and set within a larger Denton estate of about , including a village, church, and landscaped gardens....
which he had purchased in 1920. However, the estate was sold already in 1925. Following his elevation to the peerage the Heywood and Radcliffe constituency was won in the subsequent by-election by the Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
candidate Walter Halls, a farm labourer employed by Illingworth.
Family