Harry Davenport (UK politician)
Encyclopedia
Harry Tichborne Davenport J.P.
(1833 – 19 March 1895), known from 1890 as Harry Tichborne Hinckes, was a British barrister
and Conservative Party
politician who was elected to the House of Commons for constituencies in his native Staffordshire
on two occasions in the 1880s.
and a Deputy Lieutenant
of the county. He was educated at Harrow
and at Christ Church, Oxford
, and was called to the bar in 1860 at the Inner Temple
. He later followed in his father's footsteps and became a magistrate, and in 1889 was appointed as an honorary Commissioner in lunacy.
at the 1874 general election
in Newcastle-under-Lyme
, and was unsuccessful again at a by-election in Stoke-on-Trent
in February 1875.
At the 1880 general election
Davenport was elected as one of the two Members of Parliament
(MPs) for the Northern division of Staffordshire
. He held that seat for 5 years, until the division was abolished under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
, when the two-member county divisions and many parliamentary borough
s were replaced with new single-member county divisions. Davenport stood in the new Leek division
at the 1885 general election
, where he was narrowly beaten by the Liberal Party
candidate Charles Crompton
.
At the 1886 election
, he overturned Compton's majority and was returned to the Commons as MP for Leek. However, he did not defend his seat in 1892
, when he retired from Parliament.
. They had no children.
In 1881, his clubs were listed as the United University Club
and the Carlton Club
.
On 12 November 1890, near the end of his political career, he changed his surname by Royal License to Hinckes, to fulfil a condition in the will of Theodosia Hinckes.
He died on 19 March 1895, and his estate was bequeathed to his nephew Ralph Tichborne Davenport.
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...
(1833 – 19 March 1895), known from 1890 as Harry Tichborne Hinckes, was a British barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
and 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...
politician who was elected to the House of Commons for constituencies in his native Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
on two occasions in the 1880s.
Early life
Davenport was the son of John Davenport of Westwood, Staffordshire, 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...
and a Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of the county. He was educated at Harrow
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
and at 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...
, and was called to the bar in 1860 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...
. He later followed in his father's footsteps and became a magistrate, and in 1889 was appointed as an honorary Commissioner in lunacy.
Political career
He first stood for ParliamentParliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
at the 1874 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1874
-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 Newcastle-under-Lyme
Newcastle-under-Lyme (UK Parliament constituency)
Newcastle-under-Lyme is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- History :...
, and was unsuccessful again at a by-election in Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent (UK Parliament constituency)
Stoke-on-Trent constituency may refer to:*Stoke-upon-Trent , 1832-1918*Stoke-on-Trent, Stoke , 1918-1950*Stoke-on-Trent Burslem , 1918-1950...
in February 1875.
At 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 *...
Davenport was elected as one of the two Members 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,...
(MPs) for the Northern division of Staffordshire
North Staffordshire (UK Parliament constituency)
North Staffordshire was a county constituency in the county of Staffordshire. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the bloc vote system.-History:The constituency was created by the Reform Act 1832 for the 1832 general...
. He held that seat for 5 years, until the division was abolished under the Redistribution of Seats Act 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...
, when the two-member county divisions and many parliamentary borough
Parliamentary borough
Parliamentary boroughs are a type of administrative division, usually covering urban areas, that are entitled to representation in a Parliament...
s were replaced with new single-member county divisions. Davenport stood in the new Leek division
Leek (UK Parliament constituency)
Leek was a parliamentary constituency in Staffordshire which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
at the 1885 general election
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:...
, where he was narrowly beaten by the Liberal Party
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...
candidate Charles Crompton
Charles Crompton
Charles Crompton Q.C. was an English barrister and Liberal politician.Crompton was born at St Pancras, London, the son of Sir Charles Crompton, a Judge of the Queen's Bench and his wife Caroline Fletcher of Liverpool...
.
At the 1886 election
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**...
, he overturned Compton's majority and was returned to the Commons as MP for Leek. However, he did not defend his seat 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...
, when he retired from Parliament.
Personal life
Davenport was married in 1868 to Georgiana Henrietta, the eldest daughter of Sir William Curtis, 3rd Baronet, a former High Sheriff of ShropshireHigh Sheriff of Shropshire
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
. They had no children.
In 1881, his clubs were listed as the United University Club
United University Club
The United University Club was a London gentlemen's club, founded in 1821. It occupied the purpose-built University Club House, at 1, Suffolk Street, London, England, from 1826 until 1971.-Formation and membership:...
and the Carlton Club
Carlton Club
The Carlton Club is a gentlemen's club in London which describes itself as the "oldest, most elite, and most important of all Conservative clubs." Membership of the club is by nomination and election only.-History:...
.
On 12 November 1890, near the end of his political career, he changed his surname by Royal License to Hinckes, to fulfil a condition in the will of Theodosia Hinckes.
He died on 19 March 1895, and his estate was bequeathed to his nephew Ralph Tichborne Davenport.