Edward Hodson Bayley
Encyclopedia
Edward Hodson Bayley was a British businessman and Liberal Party
politician.
Born in Accrington
, Lancashire, he was the second son of the Reverend Dr Johnathon Bayley, a pastor with the Swedenborgian
New Church
and his wife Lydia née Hodson. Educated in England, France and Germany, he moved to the south east suburbs of London and established E H Bayley & Co., waggon builders, at Newington Causeway
. In 1892 he was described as a "wheelwright and fire escape manufacturer". He was also the chairman of three other transport-related businesses: the West Metropolitan Tramways Company
, the London Improved Cab Company and of the United Horseshoe and Nail Company. He also sat on the London board of the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States. His first wife was an American woman, Josephine Simon. After her death in 1881, Bayley founded the New Church Orphanage in her memory.
Bayley was active in the Liberal Party, and in 1886
was chosen to contest the Camberwell North
constituency, defending the seat of the retiring member of parliament, Richard Strong
. He described himself as a "thorough Home Ruler" and a supporter of William Gladstone. Bayley had two opponents: John Richards Kelly
of the Conservative Party
and William Pirie Duff, described as a "Dissentient Liberal". Bayley was defeated, with Kelly gaining the seat with a majority of 365 votes.
Despite his defeat, Bayley was unananimously readopted as prospective parliamentary candidate by the North Camberwell Liberal and Radical Association in March 1887. The next general election was held in 1892
, and he faced a straight fight against the incumbent, Kelly. A major issue in the election was the proposed extension of tramways over Westminster Bridge
: Bayley was strongly in favour of bringing the tramlines into south London, but Kelly was opposed. Bayley easily won the seat, with a majority of 845 votes over Kelly. In the following year Bayley was involved in a curious court case, having refused to pay the painter of his official portarit in House of Commons. Bayley claimed that it was a poor likeness, and "only like him in the tie", while his wife objected to it as it did not make him look "intellectual" enough. The court found against Bayley.
In June 1895 the Liberal government led by Lord Rosebery
lost a vote of confidence
. A general election
was duly called, and Bayley defended his seat against a new Conservative candidate, Major Philip Dalbiac
. A third candidate, Nelson Palmer, subsequently entered the contest, claiming to be "independent of party", but representing the labouring classes. The Conservatives secured a large majority at the election, and Bayley was one of many Liberal MPs to lose their seats. Dalbiac secured a majority of 693 votes over Bayley. Palmer's intervention had no effect, as he received only 32 votes.
Bayley continued to hold directorships in various transport businesses, although the United Horseshoe and Nail Company was wound up in 1909. He was chairman of the London Road Car Company and was a director of the Premier Omnibus Company.
He died at Peacehaven
, Sussex in March 1938 aged 96, and was buried in Highgate Cemetery
.
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.
Born in Accrington
Accrington
Accrington is a town in Lancashire, within the borough of Hyndburn. It lies about east of Blackburn, west of Burnley, north of Manchester city centre and is situated on the mostly culverted River Hyndburn...
, Lancashire, he was the second son of the Reverend Dr Johnathon Bayley, a pastor with the Swedenborgian
Swedenborgian
A Swedenborgian is the doctrines, beliefs, and practices of the Church of the New Jerusalem, and is an adjective describing a person or an organization that understands the Bible through the theological writings of Emanuel Swedenborg....
New Church
The New Church
The New Church is the name for a New religious movement developed from the writings of the Swedish scientist and theologian Emanuel Swedenborg . Swedenborg claimed to have received a new revelation from Jesus Christ through continuous heavenly visions which he experienced over a period of at least...
and his wife Lydia née Hodson. Educated in England, France and Germany, he moved to the south east suburbs of London and established E H Bayley & Co., waggon builders, at Newington Causeway
Newington Causeway
Newington Causeway is a road in Southwark, London, England, between the Elephant and Castle and Borough High Street. The Elephant and Castle tube station is at the southern end....
. In 1892 he was described as a "wheelwright and fire escape manufacturer". He was also the chairman of three other transport-related businesses: the West Metropolitan Tramways Company
London United Tramways
London United Tramways Company Limited was an operator of trams and trolleybuses in the western and southern suburbs of London, UK, from 1894 to 1933, when it passed to the London Passenger Transport Board.-Origins:...
, the London Improved Cab Company and of the United Horseshoe and Nail Company. He also sat on the London board of the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States. His first wife was an American woman, Josephine Simon. After her death in 1881, Bayley founded the New Church Orphanage in her memory.
Bayley was active in the Liberal Party, and in 1886
United Kingdom general election, 1886
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the UK general election, 1886*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
was chosen to contest the Camberwell North
Camberwell North (UK Parliament constituency)
Camberwell North was a borough constituency located in the Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell, in South London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
constituency, defending the seat of the retiring member of parliament, Richard Strong
Richard Strong
Richard Strong was an English Liberal politician.Strong was born at St Giles, London, the son of a flour factor of Mark Lane, London. He became a J.P. for Surrey, and a governor of Dulwich College....
. He described himself as a "thorough Home Ruler" and a supporter of William Gladstone. Bayley had two opponents: John Richards Kelly
John Richards Kelly
John Richards Kelly was a British barrister and Conservative Party politician.He was the second son of Frederic Festus Kelly of Chessington, Surrey and his wife Harriet née Richards. At the time of his birth his father was the Inspector of Letter Carriers for the General Post Office...
of 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...
and William Pirie Duff, described as a "Dissentient Liberal". Bayley was defeated, with Kelly gaining the seat with a majority of 365 votes.
Despite his defeat, Bayley was unananimously readopted as prospective parliamentary candidate by the North Camberwell Liberal and Radical Association in March 1887. The next general election was held in 1892
United Kingdom general election, 1892
The 1892 United Kingdom general election was held from 4 July to 26 July 1892. It saw the Conservatives, led by Lord Salisbury, win the greatest number of seats, but not enough for an overall majority as William Ewart Gladstone's Liberals won many more seats than in the 1886 general election...
, and he faced a straight fight against the incumbent, Kelly. A major issue in the election was the proposed extension of tramways over Westminster Bridge
Westminster Bridge
Westminster Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge over the River Thames between Westminster on the north side and Lambeth on the south side, in London, England....
: Bayley was strongly in favour of bringing the tramlines into south London, but Kelly was opposed. Bayley easily won the seat, with a majority of 845 votes over Kelly. In the following year Bayley was involved in a curious court case, having refused to pay the painter of his official portarit in House of Commons. Bayley claimed that it was a poor likeness, and "only like him in the tie", while his wife objected to it as it did not make him look "intellectual" enough. The court found against Bayley.
In June 1895 the Liberal government led by Lord Rosebery
Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery
Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, KG, PC was a British Liberal statesman and Prime Minister. Between the death of his father, in 1851, and the death of his grandfather, the 4th Earl, in 1868, he was known by the courtesy title of Lord Dalmeny.Rosebery was a Liberal Imperialist who...
lost a vote of confidence
1895 vote of no confidence against the government of the Earl of Rosebery
The vote of no confidence against the government of the Earl of Rosebery of 21 June 1895, also known as the Cordite vote, was the occasion on which the Liberal Government of the Earl of Rosebery was defeated in a vote of censure by the House of Commons...
. A general election
United Kingdom general election, 1895
The United Kingdom general election of 1895 was held from 13 July - 7 August 1895. It was won by the Conservatives led by Lord Salisbury who formed an alliance with the Liberal Unionist Party and had a large majority over the Liberals, led by Lord Rosebery...
was duly called, and Bayley defended his seat against a new Conservative candidate, Major Philip Dalbiac
Philip Hugh Dalbiac
Philip Hugh Dalbiac was a British army officer, publisher, author and Conservative Party politician. He was the third son of Henry Eadley Aylmer Dalbiac and his wife Mary née Mainwaring of Durrington, Sussex...
. A third candidate, Nelson Palmer, subsequently entered the contest, claiming to be "independent of party", but representing the labouring classes. The Conservatives secured a large majority at the election, and Bayley was one of many Liberal MPs to lose their seats. Dalbiac secured a majority of 693 votes over Bayley. Palmer's intervention had no effect, as he received only 32 votes.
Bayley continued to hold directorships in various transport businesses, although the United Horseshoe and Nail Company was wound up in 1909. He was chairman of the London Road Car Company and was a director of the Premier Omnibus Company.
He died at Peacehaven
Peacehaven
Peacehaven is a town and civil parish in the Lewes district of East Sussex, England. It is located above the chalk cliffs of the South Downs approximately six miles east of Brighton city centre, on the A259 road...
, Sussex in March 1938 aged 96, and was buried in Highgate Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery is a cemetery located in north London, England. It is designated Grade I on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England. It is divided into two parts, named the East and West cemetery....
.