Arthur Atherley
Encyclopedia
Arthur Atherley was an English Member of Parliament
, serving the Southampton
constituency three times, as Whig, Liberal
and Reformer.
Atherley was born in Southampton
, the son of Arthur Atherley and Susanna Carter, and was the fifth successive member of the Atherley family to be baptised as "Arthur". He was educated at Eton College
where, in 1791, he had his portrait painted by Sir Thomas Lawrence
– this portrait now hangs in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
. At Eton, he was captain of the Ad Montem club
, an institution with roots to medieval times that survived until 1847. One of the club's traditions was to take part in a procession to Salt Hill
during which boys in fancy costume, the salt bearers, participated in the maintenance of their "captain" at university by levying contributions from passers-by.
After finishing his education at Eton, he then went up to Trinity College, Cambridge
, where he was admitted a pensioner on 6 May 1790, matriculating at Michaelmas, 1791, following which he was admitted to Lincoln's Inn
. On 2 June 1793, he married Lady Louisa Kerr, daughter of William Kerr, 5th Marquess of Lothian
; they had eight children.
Atherley was four times elected to represent Southampton
as M.P.
; in 1806
, 1812
, 1831
and 1832
, and was one of the original members of the Fox Club
. He was also a member of the family banking business in Southampton. He retired from politics in 1835.
He later moved to Sussex
, where he served as a justice of the peace
, and he died at Tower House, Brighton
, in 1844, but his body was returned to Southampton and buried in All Saints' Church.
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, serving the Southampton
Southampton (UK Parliament constituency)
Southampton was a parliamentary constituency which was represented in the British House of Commons. Centred on the town of Southampton, it returned two Members of Parliament from 1295 until it was abolished for the 1950 general election....
constituency three times, as Whig, 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...
and Reformer.
Atherley was born in Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, the son of Arthur Atherley and Susanna Carter, and was the fifth successive member of the Atherley family to be baptised as "Arthur". He was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
where, in 1791, he had his portrait painted by Sir Thomas Lawrence
Thomas Lawrence (painter)
Sir Thomas Lawrence RA FRS was a leading English portrait painter and president of the Royal Academy.Lawrence was a child prodigy. He was born in Bristol and began drawing in Devizes, where his father was an innkeeper. At the age of ten, having moved to Bath, he was supporting his family with his...
– this portrait now hangs in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is an art museum in Los Angeles, California. It is located on Wilshire Boulevard along Museum Row in the Miracle Mile vicinity of Los Angeles, adjacent to the George C. Page Museum and La Brea Tar Pits....
. At Eton, he was captain of the Ad Montem club
Eton Montem
Eton Montem was a custom observed by Eton College from at least 1561 until it was finally suppressed in 1847, at the Montem Mound in Chalvey, Slough, Buckinghamshire The mound is situated some 2 miles from the college near the London to Bath coach road, now the A4.Montem is first reported in...
, an institution with roots to medieval times that survived until 1847. One of the club's traditions was to take part in a procession to Salt Hill
Salt Hill
Salt Hill is a district within the unitary authority of Slough in Berkshire in the south of England, close to London. Before 1974, Salt Hill was part of Buckinghamshire...
during which boys in fancy costume, the salt bearers, participated in the maintenance of their "captain" at university by levying contributions from passers-by.
After finishing his education at Eton, he then went up to Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, where he was admitted a pensioner on 6 May 1790, matriculating at Michaelmas, 1791, following which he was admitted to Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
. On 2 June 1793, he married Lady Louisa Kerr, daughter of William Kerr, 5th Marquess of Lothian
William Kerr, 5th Marquess of Lothian
General William John Kerr, 5th Marquess of Lothian KT was a British soldier and peer, styled Lord Newbottle until 1767 and Earl of Ancram from 1767 to 1775....
; they had eight children.
Atherley was four times elected to represent Southampton
Southampton (UK Parliament constituency)
Southampton was a parliamentary constituency which was represented in the British House of Commons. Centred on the town of Southampton, it returned two Members of Parliament from 1295 until it was abolished for the 1950 general election....
as M.P.
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
; in 1806
United Kingdom general election, 1806
The United Kingdom general election, 1806 was the election of members to the 3rd Parliament of the United Kingdom. This was the second general election to be held after the Union of Great Britain and Ireland....
, 1812
United Kingdom general election, 1812
The election to the 5th Parliament of the United Kingdom in 1812 was the fourth general election to be held after the Union of Great Britain and Ireland....
, 1831
United Kingdom general election, 1831
The 1831 general election in the United Kingdom saw a landslide win by supporters of electoral reform, which was the major election issue. As a result it was the last unreformed election, as the Parliament which resulted ensured the passage of the Reform Act 1832. Polling was held from 28 April to...
and 1832
United Kingdom general election, 1832
-Seats summary:-Parties and leaders at the general election:The Earl Grey had been Prime Minister since 22 November 1830. His was the first predominantly Whig administration since the Ministry of all the Talents in 1806-1807....
, and was one of the original members of the Fox Club
Fox Club
The Fox Club is a traditional Gentlemen's club housed in the former London home of Charles James Fox, a British whig.-External links:** at...
. He was also a member of the family banking business in Southampton. He retired from politics in 1835.
He later moved to Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, where he served as a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, and he died at Tower House, Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, in 1844, but his body was returned to Southampton and buried in All Saints' Church.