Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett (politician)
Encyclopedia
Sir Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett (24 August 1849 – 18 January 1902) was an American born British Conservative
politician
who sat in the House of Commons from 1880 to 1902.
, New York
to Ellis Bartlett of Plymouth, Massachusetts and Sophia Ashmead of Philadelphia. He was the elder brother of William Burdett-Coutts, and, through their father, they claimed to be descended from Richard Warren
, one of the passengers on the Mayflower.
Shortly after the death of his father in 1852 his mother moved the family to England, where he went to school at Torquay, before entering Christ Church, Oxford
in 1867 (after a short time at St Mary Hall, Oxford
). He graduated with first class honours in Law and History in 1871, and was called to the bar
in 1877.
He was for a while one of HM's Inspectors of Schools.
(MP) for Eye
, Suffolk
in the 1880 general election
. In 1882 his caricature by "Spy" was published in the British weekly magazine Vanity Fair (October 21, 1882) under the title "The Patriotic League". The Eye constituency was redefined under the Redistribution of Seats Act of 1885
, and in the general election of 1885
he ran for, and won, Sheffield Ecclesall
constituency, which he held until his death in 1902. He served as Civil Lord of the Admiralty in the governments of Lord Salisbury
from 1885 to February 1886 and August 1886 to 1892.
During the 1890s Ashmead-Bartlett championed the cause of Swaziland
against the administration of the South African Republic
. In late 1899, during the Second Anglo-Boer War, he travelled to South Africa to lobby the British Commander, Lord Roberts
, for a position. In March Lord Roberts sent him to Swaziland to meet the Queen Regent. During this meeting the Queen Regent requested British protection for Swaziland. It is unclear if he initiated this request.
, was a war correspondent who became famous for his reporting of the Battle of Gallipoli
.
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who sat in the House of Commons from 1880 to 1902.
Early life
Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett was born in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to Ellis Bartlett of Plymouth, Massachusetts and Sophia Ashmead of Philadelphia. He was the elder brother of William Burdett-Coutts, and, through their father, they claimed to be descended from Richard Warren
Richard Warren
Richard Warren was a passenger on the Mayflower in 1620. He settled in Plymouth Colony and was among ten passengers of the Mayflower landing party with Myles Standish at Cape Cod on November 11, 1620...
, one of the passengers on the Mayflower.
Shortly after the death of his father in 1852 his mother moved the family to England, where he went to school at Torquay, before entering Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
in 1867 (after a short time at St Mary Hall, Oxford
St Mary Hall, Oxford
St Mary Hall was an academic hall of the University of Oxford associated with Oriel College since 1326, but which functioned independently from 1545 to 1902.- History :...
). He graduated with first class honours in Law and History in 1871, and was called to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1877.
He was for a while one of HM's Inspectors of Schools.
Politics
Ashmead-Bartlett was elected as Member of ParliamentMember 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 Eye
Eye (UK Parliament constituency)
Eye was a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected two Members of Parliament by the bloc vote system of election...
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
in the 1880 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1880
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...
. In 1882 his caricature by "Spy" was published in the British weekly magazine Vanity Fair (October 21, 1882) under the title "The Patriotic League". The Eye constituency was redefined under the Redistribution of Seats Act of 1885
Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was a piece of electoral reform legislation that redistributed the seats in the House of Commons, introducing the concept of equally populated constituencies, in an attempt to equalise representation across...
, and in the general election of 1885
United Kingdom general election, 1885
-Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:...
he ran for, and won, Sheffield Ecclesall
Sheffield Ecclesall (UK Parliament constituency)
Sheffield Ecclesall was a Parliamentary constituency represented by a single Member of Parliament in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1950. 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.- Boundaries...
constituency, which he held until his death in 1902. He served as Civil Lord of the Admiralty in the governments of Lord Salisbury
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury
Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, KG, GCVO, PC , styled Lord Robert Cecil before 1865 and Viscount Cranborne from June 1865 until April 1868, was a British Conservative statesman and thrice Prime Minister, serving for a total of over 13 years...
from 1885 to February 1886 and August 1886 to 1892.
During the 1890s Ashmead-Bartlett championed the cause of Swaziland
Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
against the administration of the South African Republic
South African Republic
The South African Republic , often informally known as the Transvaal Republic, was an independent Boer-ruled country in Southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century. Not to be confused with the present-day Republic of South Africa, it occupied the area later known as the South African...
. In late 1899, during the Second Anglo-Boer War, he travelled to South Africa to lobby the British Commander, Lord Roberts
Lord Roberts
Lord Roberts may refer to:*John Roberts, 2nd Baron Roberts , was an English politician and soldier during the English Civil War English and English Restoration...
, for a position. In March Lord Roberts sent him to Swaziland to meet the Queen Regent. During this meeting the Queen Regent requested British protection for Swaziland. It is unclear if he initiated this request.
Personal life
In 1874 he married Frances Christina Walsh. His eldest son by this marriage, Ellis Ashmead-BartlettEllis Ashmead-Bartlett
Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett was a British war correspondent during the First World War. Through his reporting of the Battle of Gallipoli, Ashmead-Bartlett was instrumental in the birth of the Anzac legend which still dominates military history in Australia and New Zealand...
, was a war correspondent who became famous for his reporting of the Battle of Gallipoli
Battle of Gallipoli
The Gallipoli Campaign, also known as the Dardanelles Campaign or the Battle of Gallipoli, took place at the peninsula of Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire between 25 April 1915 and 9 January 1916, during the First World War...
.