Michael Bass, 1st Baron Burton
Encyclopedia
Michael Arthur Bass, 1st Baron Burton KCVO
(12 November 1837 – 1 February 1909), known as Sir Michael Bass, 1st Baronet, from 1882 to 1886, was a British
brewer, Liberal
politician and philanthropist. He sat in the House of Commons from 1865 to 1888 when he was raised to the peerage
as Baron Burton
.
Bass was born at Burton
, the elder son of Michael Thomas Bass and the great-grandson of William Bass
, the founder of the brewery firm of Bass & Co
in Burton. His mother was Eliza Jane, daughter of Samuel Arden. Bass was educated at Burton Grammar School, Harrow
and Trinity College, Cambridge
. He was a Director of the family firm of Bass, Ratcliff, Gretton and Co from 1863, and Chairman of the Directors upon his father’s death in 1884. He also sat as a Member of Parliament for Stafford
from 1865 to 1868, for East Staffordshire
from 1868 to 1885 and for Burton
from 1885 to 1886. As a brewer, it was uncomfortable to be a Liberal MP as there was a strong temperance
element to the Liberal party at the time.
In 1882 he was created a Baronet, of Stafford in the County of Stafford, chiefly in honour of his father (who was then still alive and who had declined every honour offered to him) and with remainder to his brother Hamar Alfred Bass
. Four years later, in 1886, he was raised to the peerage as Baron Burton, of Rangemore and of Burton-on-Trent in the County of Stafford, with remainder to heirs male. In 1897 he was created Baron Burton, of Burton-on-Trent and of Rangemore in the County of Stafford, with remainder, in default of male issue, to his daughter and her male issue. In 1904 he was further honoured when he was made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
.
Lord Burton married Harriett Georgina, daughter of Edward Thornewill, in 1869. He died in London in February 1909, aged 71. He was succeeded in the baronetcy according to the special remainder by his nephew William
while the barony of 1886 became extinct. The peerage of 1897 passed according to the special remainder to his daughter Nellie Lisa. Lady Burton died in 1931.
The Bass family seat was at Rangemore. King Edward VII visited Rangemore, the town and Bass Brewery in February 1902.
Like his father, Michael Arthur Bass was a generous benefactor to Burton, making many fine contributions to the town, including the Ferry Bridge, the St Paul’s Institute and Liberal Club (now the Town Hall) and St. Chad’s church
. A bronze statue of Lord Burton, sculpted by F. W. Pomeroy
, was erected in front of the Burton Town Hall in 1911.
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Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(12 November 1837 – 1 February 1909), known as Sir Michael Bass, 1st Baronet, from 1882 to 1886, was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
brewer, 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...
politician and philanthropist. He sat in the House of Commons from 1865 to 1888 when he was raised to the peerage
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
as Baron Burton
Baron Burton
Baron Burton, of Burton-on-Trent and of Rangemore in the County of Stafford, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1897 for the prominent brewer, philanthropist and Liberal politician Michael Bass, 1st Baron Burton. He had already been created a Baronet in 1882 and...
.
Bass was born at Burton
Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent, also known as Burton-on-Trent or simply Burton, is a town straddling the River Trent in the east of Staffordshire, England. Its associated adjective is "Burtonian"....
, the elder son of Michael Thomas Bass and the great-grandson of William Bass
William Bass (brewer)
-Career:William Bass was the son of William Bass and his wife Hannah Fish. He had a carrier business with his brother John at Hinckley, Leicestershire...
, the founder of the brewery firm of Bass & Co
Bass (beer)
The Bass Brewery was founded as a brewery in 1777 by William Bass in Burton upon Trent, England. The main brand was Bass Pale Ale, which was once the highest selling beer in the UK...
in Burton. His mother was Eliza Jane, daughter of Samuel Arden. Bass was educated at Burton Grammar School, 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 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...
. He was a Director of the family firm of Bass, Ratcliff, Gretton and Co from 1863, and Chairman of the Directors upon his father’s death in 1884. He also sat as a Member of Parliament for Stafford
Stafford (UK Parliament constituency)
Stafford is a county 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. The sitting MP is the Conservative Jeremy Lefroy....
from 1865 to 1868, for East Staffordshire
East Staffordshire (UK Parliament constituency)
East Staffordshire or Staffordshire East was a county constituency in the county of Staffordshire...
from 1868 to 1885 and for Burton
Burton (UK Parliament constituency)
Burton is a county 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.-Boundaries:...
from 1885 to 1886. As a brewer, it was uncomfortable to be a Liberal MP as there was a strong temperance
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
element to the Liberal party at the time.
In 1882 he was created a Baronet, of Stafford in the County of Stafford, chiefly in honour of his father (who was then still alive and who had declined every honour offered to him) and with remainder to his brother Hamar Alfred Bass
Hamar Alfred Bass
Hamar Alfred Bass was a British brewer, race horse breeder and a Liberal Party politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1878 to 1898....
. Four years later, in 1886, he was raised to the peerage as Baron Burton, of Rangemore and of Burton-on-Trent in the County of Stafford, with remainder to heirs male. In 1897 he was created Baron Burton, of Burton-on-Trent and of Rangemore in the County of Stafford, with remainder, in default of male issue, to his daughter and her male issue. In 1904 he was further honoured when he was made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
.
Lord Burton married Harriett Georgina, daughter of Edward Thornewill, in 1869. He died in London in February 1909, aged 71. He was succeeded in the baronetcy according to the special remainder by his nephew William
Sir William Bass, 2nd Baronet
Sir William Arthur Hamar Bass, 2nd Baronet was a British racehorse owner and a significant contributor to the racing industry. He also provided support for the British film industry in its early days....
while the barony of 1886 became extinct. The peerage of 1897 passed according to the special remainder to his daughter Nellie Lisa. Lady Burton died in 1931.
The Bass family seat was at Rangemore. King Edward VII visited Rangemore, the town and Bass Brewery in February 1902.
Like his father, Michael Arthur Bass was a generous benefactor to Burton, making many fine contributions to the town, including the Ferry Bridge, the St Paul’s Institute and Liberal Club (now the Town Hall) and St. Chad’s church
St. Chad's Church, Burton-on-Trent
St Chad's Church is an Anglican church on Hunter Street in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire England. It is in the diocese of Lichfield and the advowson is vested in the bishop.-History:...
. A bronze statue of Lord Burton, sculpted by F. W. Pomeroy
F. W. Pomeroy
Frederick William Pomeroy RA was a prolific British sculptor of architectural and monumental works.He was born in London, the son of an artist-craftsman. He trained with William Silver Frith at the South London Technical School of Art , where he was also taught by Jules Dalou...
, was erected in front of the Burton Town Hall in 1911.
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