Charles Thomas-Stanford
Encyclopedia
Sir Charles Thomas-Stanford, 1st Baronet (3 April 1858 – 7 March 1932), born Charles Thomas, was a British Conservative Party
politician from Brighton
. He sat in the House of Commons from 1914 to 1922.
, he was educated at the Highgate School
and at Oriel College, Oxford, where he graduated with a B.A.
degree in 1881. He was called to the bar at the Inner Temple
in 1882, but did not practice.
In 1897 he married Ellen Stanford, the daughter and heiress of William Stanford of Preston Park, Suffolk, and widow of Vere Benett-Stanford, the former MP for Shaftesbury
. In the same year he changed his name by royal license to Thomas-Stanford.
(J.P.) for Brighton, and served as Mayor of Brighton in 1910–11 and 1912–14, becoming an alderman
by 1914.
Thomas-Stanford was elected as a Member of Parliament
(MP) for Brighton
in June 1914 at an unopposed by-election following the resignation of the Conservative MP John Gordon. He was re-elected in 1918
as a Coalition Conservative (i.e. a supporter of the coalition government led by the Liberal David Lloyd George
), and stood down from Parliament
at the 1922 general election
.
In 1922 he donated Lewes Castle
to the Sussex Archaeological Society
, of which he was a long-serving chairman.
Thomas-Stanford was made a baronet
on the 1929 New Years Honours List and the title was conferred on 8 May 1929.
He died on 7 March 1932 at his home Preston Manor, Brighton
, which was bequeathed to Brighton Corporation.
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...
politician from 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...
. He sat in the House of Commons from 1914 to 1922.
Early life and family
The son of David Collet Thomas, from HoveHove
Hove is a town on the south coast of England, immediately to the west of its larger neighbour Brighton, with which it forms the unitary authority Brighton and Hove. It forms a single conurbation together with Brighton and some smaller towns and villages running along the coast...
, he was educated at the Highgate School
Highgate School
-Notable members of staff and governing body:* John Ireton, brother of Henry Ireton, Cromwellian General* 1st Earl of Mansfield, Lord Chief Justice, owner of Kenwood, noted for judgment finding contracts for slavery unenforceable in English law* T. S...
and at Oriel College, Oxford, where he graduated with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1881. He was called to the bar at the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1882, but did not practice.
In 1897 he married Ellen Stanford, the daughter and heiress of William Stanford of Preston Park, Suffolk, and widow of Vere Benett-Stanford, the former MP for Shaftesbury
Shaftesbury (UK Parliament constituency)
Shaftesbury was a parliamentary constituency in Dorset. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1295 until 1832 and one member until the constituency was abolished in 1885....
. In the same year he changed his name by royal license to Thomas-Stanford.
Career
Stanford-Thomas became a Justice of the PeaceJustice 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...
(J.P.) for Brighton, and served as Mayor of Brighton in 1910–11 and 1912–14, becoming an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
by 1914.
Thomas-Stanford was elected as a Member of Parliament
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,...
(MP) for Brighton
Brighton (UK Parliament constituency)
Brighton was a parliamentary constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 until it was divided into single-member seats from the United Kingdom general election, 1950...
in June 1914 at an unopposed by-election following the resignation of the Conservative MP John Gordon. He was re-elected in 1918
United Kingdom general election, 1918
The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did...
as a Coalition Conservative (i.e. a supporter of the coalition government led by the Liberal David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
), and stood down from Parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
at the 1922 general election
United 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...
.
In 1922 he donated Lewes Castle
Lewes Castle
Lewes Castle stands at the highest point of Lewes, East Sussex, England on an artificial mound constructed with chalk blocks. It was originally called Bray Castle.-History:...
to the Sussex Archaeological Society
Sussex Archaeological Society
The Sussex Archaeological Society, founded in 1846, is the largest county-based archaeological society in the UK. Its headquarters are in Lewes, Sussex...
, of which he was a long-serving chairman.
Thomas-Stanford was made a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
on the 1929 New Years Honours List and the title was conferred on 8 May 1929.
He died on 7 March 1932 at his home Preston Manor, Brighton
Preston Manor, Brighton
Preston Manor is the former manor house of the ancient Sussex village of Preston, now part of the coastal city of Brighton and Hove, England. The present building dates mostly from 1738, when Lord of the manor Thomas Western rebuilt the original 13th-century structure , and 1905 when Charles...
, which was bequeathed to Brighton Corporation.