Arnold Muir Wilson
Encyclopedia
Arnold Muir Wilson was a British
solicitor
and politician
.
Born in Sheffield
, Wilson studied in Germany
before becoming a solicitor based at Clifford's Inn
. He built up a large practice in Sheffield, usually representing the defence at the Police Court, against Arthur Neal
. He was a key figure in the formation of an Amateur Parliament in the city, and in 1883 he was elected to Sheffield City Council
for the Conservative Party
. He was also known as an early motorist and mountaineer
.
In 1891, Wilson objected to an attack on him in the Sheffield Anarchist, and successfully sued its editor, John Creaghe
, for libel. Although he won the case, no damages were awarded, as the judge believed that the newspaper could only inflict injury on those who read it.
In 1898, Wilson was appointed as an honorary consul for Serbia
, and he attempted to use the position to promote British trade with the nation. In 1904, he travelled to Belgrade
and worked with Frank Mottershaw
to film the coronation of Peter I. This is the oldest surviving film shot in Serbia.
In the 1900s, Wilson became known for his outspoken attacks on well-known figures in Sheffield. Despite this, he stood for the Conservatives in Sheffield Attercliffe at the 1906 UK general election, taking 46.8% of the vote. In 1907, he began a trip around the world and did not return to England again. Despite this, he objected to the nomination of an alternative Conservative candidate in the Sheffield Attercliffe by-election, 1909
, and ensure he was nominated as an independent Conservative. He took a strong fourth place, with 21.7% of the votes cast. He died later in 1909, in Vancouver
.
Wilson's daughter became a prominent author under the pen-name Romer Wilson, while his great-nephew is the author and journalist Roger Redfern.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Born in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, Wilson studied in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
before becoming a solicitor based at Clifford's Inn
Clifford's Inn
Clifford's Inn was an Inn of Chancery which is located between Fetter Lane and Clifford's Inn Passage, leading off Fleet Street, EC4.Founded in 1344 and dissolved in 1903, most of the original structure was demolished in 1934...
. He built up a large practice in Sheffield, usually representing the defence at the Police Court, against Arthur Neal
Arthur Neal
Arthur Neal was a British politician.Born in Sheffield, Neal attended Wesley College before becoming a solicitor. He was elected to Sheffield City Council as a Liberal in 1903, holding a seat until 1921....
. He was a key figure in the formation of an Amateur Parliament in the city, and in 1883 he was elected to Sheffield City Council
Sheffield City Council
Sheffield City Council is the city council for the metropolitan borough of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It consists of 84 councillors, elected to represent 28 wards, each with three councillors...
for the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
. He was also known as an early motorist and mountaineer
Mountaineer
-Sports:*Mountaineering, the sport, hobby or profession of walking, hiking, trekking and climbing up mountains, also known as alpinism-University athletic teams and mascots:*Appalachian State Mountaineers, the athletic teams of Appalachian State University...
.
In 1891, Wilson objected to an attack on him in the Sheffield Anarchist, and successfully sued its editor, John Creaghe
John Creaghe
Dr. John O’Dwyer Creaghe , also known as Juan Creaghe, was an Irish-born anarchist revolutionary.Creaghe was born in Limerick, Ireland in 1841, and in 1865 he graduated from the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, becoming a doctor. He opened up a practice in Mitchelstown, in the County Cork...
, for libel. Although he won the case, no damages were awarded, as the judge believed that the newspaper could only inflict injury on those who read it.
In 1898, Wilson was appointed as an honorary consul for Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, and he attempted to use the position to promote British trade with the nation. In 1904, he travelled to Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
and worked with Frank Mottershaw
Frank Mottershaw
Frank Mottershaw was an early English cinema director based in Sheffield, Yorkshire. His films, A Daring Daylight Burglary and The Robbery of the Mail Coach , made in April and September 1903, are regarded as highly influential on the development of Edwin Porter’s paradigmatic...
to film the coronation of Peter I. This is the oldest surviving film shot in Serbia.
In the 1900s, Wilson became known for his outspoken attacks on well-known figures in Sheffield. Despite this, he stood for the Conservatives in Sheffield Attercliffe at the 1906 UK general election, taking 46.8% of the vote. In 1907, he began a trip around the world and did not return to England again. Despite this, he objected to the nomination of an alternative Conservative candidate in the Sheffield Attercliffe by-election, 1909
Sheffield Attercliffe by-election, 1909
A by-election was held for the British House of Commons constituency of Sheffield Attercliffe on 4 May 1909.-Background:The election was caused by the resignation of J. Batty Langley, due to long-term ill health. He had been the Liberal Party Member of Parliament for the seat since an 1894...
, and ensure he was nominated as an independent Conservative. He took a strong fourth place, with 21.7% of the votes cast. He died later in 1909, in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
.
Wilson's daughter became a prominent author under the pen-name Romer Wilson, while his great-nephew is the author and journalist Roger Redfern.