Samuel Whalley
Encyclopedia
Sir Samuel St. Swithin Burden Whalley (1800 – 3 February 1883) was a British
Radical
politician.
A member of a Lancashire
family "of great antiquity", he was the son of Samuel Whalley of Widdington Hall, Warwickshire
, and was educated at Clare Hall, Cambridge
, gaining his bachelor's degree in 1822 and master's in 1825. In 1827 he was knighted
, at which date he was living in Devon
.
area of the parish of St Marylebone, a rapidly developing suburb of London
. In 1832
Whalley sought to be nominated as a candidate for the newly enfranchised constituency of Marylebone
, London
. There was opposition to his candidacy as he was virtually unknown in the area. Questions were also raised about the manner in which he had obtained his knighthood, which was felt to have been in exchange for supporting the election of the Tory
, Sir Nicholas Tindal
as MP for Cambridge University
.
Although he failed to be selected on this occasion, a by-election occurred in the following year when one of the sitting members of parliament
resigned. He was successfully nominated, and he described himself as "not backed by either church or aristocracy but... the representative of industry". He promised to be a "pure and independent" member, and set out his political views: he was in favour of "a rigid system of economy in all branches of the state" and "a revision of the system of tithes, and the appropriation of the surplus revenues of the church to the education of the people". He also advocated the abolition of slavery, reduction of taxation, destruction of monopolies, a secret ballot
, and a three year parliamentary term.
The by-election was held on 20 March 1833, and Whalley secured a convincing win over his Tory
opponent. He characterised his election as the "proud aristocracy of the country conquered by the will of the people". He was re-elected at the next general election in 1835
. He was a strong supporter of the reforming Municipal Corporations Bill
, attacking the attempts of the House of Lords
to weaken the legislation.
In 1837
he was again returned as member for Marylebone. However, a petition was lodged against his election. In February 1838 an election court
declared his election null and void, as he had not been qualified to be a candidate due to an "insufficient estate". Whalley did not contest another election.
and Woodlawn, County Galway
, Ireland
in 1853.In his later years he lived in Nice
, France, and died there on 3 February 1883.
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...
Radical
Radicals (UK)
The Radicals were a parliamentary political grouping in the United Kingdom in the early to mid 19th century, who drew on earlier ideas of radicalism and helped to transform the Whigs into the Liberal Party.-Background:...
politician.
A member of a Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
family "of great antiquity", he was the son of Samuel Whalley of Widdington Hall, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, and was educated at Clare Hall, Cambridge
Clare Hall, Cambridge
Clare Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is a college for advanced study, admitting only postgraduate students.Informality is a defining value at Clare Hall and this contributes to its unique character...
, gaining his bachelor's degree in 1822 and master's in 1825. In 1827 he was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
, at which date he was living in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
.
Member of parliament for Marylebone
By the 1830s Whalley was living in the St John's WoodSt John's Wood
St John's Wood is a district of north-west London, England, in the City of Westminster, and at the north-west end of Regent's Park. It is approximately 2.5 miles north-west of Charing Cross. Once part of the Great Middlesex Forest, it was later owned by the Knights of St John of Jerusalem...
area of the parish of St Marylebone, a rapidly developing suburb of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In 1832
United Kingdom general election, 1832
-Seats summary:-Parties and leaders at the general election:The Earl Grey had been Prime Minister since 22 November 1830. His was the first predominantly Whig administration since the Ministry of all the Talents in 1806-1807....
Whalley sought to be nominated as a candidate for the newly enfranchised constituency of Marylebone
Marylebone (UK Parliament constituency)
Marylebone was a parliamentary constituency in Middlesex, England from 1832 to 1885. The parliamentary borough formed part of the built up area of London, and returned two members to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. There was opposition to his candidacy as he was virtually unknown in the area. Questions were also raised about the manner in which he had obtained his knighthood, which was felt to have been in exchange for supporting the election of the Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
, Sir Nicholas Tindal
Nicholas Conyngham Tindal
Sir Nicolas Conyngham Tindal was a celebrated English lawyer who successfully defended Queen Caroline at her trial for adultery in 1820...
as MP for Cambridge University
Cambridge University (UK Parliament constituency)
Cambridge University was a university constituency electing two members to the British House of Commons, from 1603 to 1950.-Boundaries, Electorate and Election Systems:...
.
Although he failed to be selected on this occasion, a by-election occurred in the following year when one of the sitting 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,...
resigned. He was successfully nominated, and he described himself as "not backed by either church or aristocracy but... the representative of industry". He promised to be a "pure and independent" member, and set out his political views: he was in favour of "a rigid system of economy in all branches of the state" and "a revision of the system of tithes, and the appropriation of the surplus revenues of the church to the education of the people". He also advocated the abolition of slavery, reduction of taxation, destruction of monopolies, a secret ballot
Secret ballot
The secret ballot is a voting method in which a voter's choices in an election or a referendum are anonymous. The key aim is to ensure the voter records a sincere choice by forestalling attempts to influence the voter by intimidation or bribery. The system is one means of achieving the goal of...
, and a three year parliamentary term.
The by-election was held on 20 March 1833, and Whalley secured a convincing win over his Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
opponent. He characterised his election as the "proud aristocracy of the country conquered by the will of the people". He was re-elected at the next general election in 1835
United Kingdom general election, 1835
The 1835 United Kingdom general election was called when Parliament was dissolved on 29 December 1834. Polling took place between 6 January and 6 February 1835, and the results saw Robert Peel's Conservatives make large gains from their low of the 1832 election, but the Whigs maintained a large...
. He was a strong supporter of the reforming Municipal Corporations Bill
Municipal Corporations Act 1835
The Municipal Corporations Act 1835 – sometimes known as the Municipal Reform Act, was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in the incorporated boroughs of England and Wales...
, attacking the attempts of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
to weaken the legislation.
In 1837
United Kingdom general election, 1837
The 1837 United Kingdom general election saw Robert Peel's Conservatives close further on the position of the Whigs, who won their fourth election of the decade....
he was again returned as member for Marylebone. However, a petition was lodged against his election. In February 1838 an election court
Election court
An Election Court is, in United Kingdom election law, a special court convened to hear a petition against the result of a local government or Parliamentary election. The court is created to hear the individual case, and ceases to exist when it has made its decision.- Statutory basis :Election...
declared his election null and void, as he had not been qualified to be a candidate due to an "insufficient estate". Whalley did not contest another election.
Marriages and death
Whalley was twice married. In 1830 he married Amelia Webb who died in 1835. His second marriage was to the Hon. Harriet Rose Trench, of MoateMoate
Moate is a town in County Westmeath, Ireland.The name An Móta is derived from the term motte-and-bailey as the Normans built an example of this type of fortification here. The earthwork is still visible behind the buildings on the main street....
and Woodlawn, County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1853.In his later years he lived in Nice
Nice
Nice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
, France, and died there on 3 February 1883.