Sir John Ainsworth, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir John Stirling Ainsworth (30 January 1844 – 24 May 1923) was an English industrialist, banker and Liberal
politician.
, Cumberland
. His mother was Mary Laurie daughter of John Stirling a Doctor of Divinity
from Craigie in East Ayrshire
. He was educated at University College School
, London and at University College, London where he obtained MA
and LL.B
degrees. In 1879 he married Margaret Catherine daughter of Robert Reid Macredie. They had one son and two daughters. His wife died in 1918. His brother, David Ainsworth (1842-1906) was Liberal Member of Parliament for West Cumberland
from 1880-1885 and for Egremont
from 1892-1895.
. He was also involved in banking, being a director of the Whitehaven
Joint Stock Bank which later merged with Parr’s Bank
, of which Ainsworth then became director of the Cumberland and Westmoreland
local board.
. He faced the sitting Member of Parliament, William Sproston Caine
who had been elected earlier that year in a by-election
as a Liberal but had switched to the Liberal Unionist Party
. Ainsworth did not fight the general elections of 1892
or 1895
but in 1900
he was chosen to contest Argyllshire
. He did not win but got the chance to fight the seat again in 1903 at a by-election
when the sitting member, Donald Ninian Nicol, died. At the by-election, which was held on 26 August 1903, Ainsworth won in a straight fight against a Unionist candidate, Mr. C Stewart, by a majority of 1,586 votes. He held the seat until 1918
when he stood down from Parliament.
in 1891 and was later Deputy Lieutenant
of Cumberland and of Argyllshire. He commanded the 3rd Volunteer Battalion, the Border Regiment
from 1898-1902. He also served as a Justice of the Peace
in Cumberland. He was created a Baronet
in 1916. In 1910 he was a member of the Royal Commission
on Mines.
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.
Family and education
Ainsworth was the son of Thomas Ainsworth of Cleator MoorCleator Moor
Cleator Moor is a small town and civil parish in the English county of Cumbria and within the boundaries of the traditional county of Cumberland....
, Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
. His mother was Mary Laurie daughter of John Stirling a Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
from Craigie in East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire
East Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. It borders on to North Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway...
. He was educated at University College School
University College School
University College School, generally known as UCS, is an Independent school charity situated in Hampstead, north west London, England. The school was founded in 1830 by University College London and inherited many of that institution's progressive and secular views...
, London and at University College, London where he obtained MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
and LL.B
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degrees. In 1879 he married Margaret Catherine daughter of Robert Reid Macredie. They had one son and two daughters. His wife died in 1918. His brother, David Ainsworth (1842-1906) was Liberal Member of Parliament for West Cumberland
West Cumberland (UK Parliament constituency)
West Cumberlandwas a county constituency 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.- Boundaries :...
from 1880-1885 and for Egremont
Egremont (UK Parliament constituency)
Egremont was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Egremont in Cumberland. 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:...
from 1892-1895.
Career
Ainsworth had interests in the iron mines and related industries in Cumberland. He was Chairman of the Cleator and Workington Junction RailwayCleator and Workington Junction Railway
The Cleator & Workington Junction Railway was located in West Cumberland in Northern England, serving the towns of Cleator Moor and Workington and intermediate villages...
. He was also involved in banking, being a director of the Whitehaven
Whitehaven
Whitehaven is a small town and port on the coast of Cumbria, England, which lies equidistant between the county's two largest settlements, Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness, and is served by the Cumbrian Coast Line and the A595 road...
Joint Stock Bank which later merged with Parr’s Bank
Westminster Bank
Westminster Bank was a British retail bank which operated in England and Wales from 1834 until its merger into the National Westminster Bank in 1970; it remains a registered company but is dormant...
, of which Ainsworth then became director of the Cumberland and Westmoreland
Westmoreland
Westmoreland is a historic county in England. It may also refer to:-Places:Australia*Westmoreland County, New South WalesCanada*Westmorland County, New BrunswickJamaica*Westmoreland, Jamaica, a parishNew Zealand...
local board.
Politics
Ainsworth contested the Barrow-in-Furness constituency at the 1886 general electionUnited 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 faced the sitting Member of Parliament, William Sproston Caine
William Sproston Caine
William Sproston Caine was a British politician and Temperance advocate.Caine was born at Seacombe, Cheshire, and was the eldest surviving son of Nathaniel Caine, a metal merchant from Cheshire, and was educated at private schools in Egremont, Merseyside and Birkenhead before entering his father's...
who had been elected earlier that year in a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
as a Liberal but had switched to the Liberal Unionist Party
Liberal Unionist Party
The Liberal Unionist Party was a British political party that was formed in 1886 by a faction that broke away from the Liberal Party. Led by Lord Hartington and Joseph Chamberlain, the party formed a political alliance with the Conservative Party in opposition to Irish Home Rule...
. Ainsworth did not fight the general elections of 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...
or 1895
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...
but in 1900
United Kingdom general election, 1900
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1900*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
he was chosen to contest Argyllshire
Argyllshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Argyllshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 until 1950, when it was renamed Argyll...
. He did not win but got the chance to fight the seat again in 1903 at a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
when the sitting member, Donald Ninian Nicol, died. At the by-election, which was held on 26 August 1903, Ainsworth won in a straight fight against a Unionist candidate, Mr. C Stewart, by a majority of 1,586 votes. He held the seat until 1918
United Kingdom general election, 1918
The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did...
when he stood down from Parliament.
Other public service
Ainsworth was High Sheriff of CumberlandHigh Sheriff of Cumberland
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...
in 1891 and was later 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 Cumberland and of Argyllshire. He commanded the 3rd Volunteer Battalion, the Border Regiment
Border Regiment
The Border Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 34th Regiment of Foot and the 55th Regiment of Foot....
from 1898-1902. He also served as a Justice of the Peace
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...
in Cumberland. He was created a Baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in 1916. In 1910 he was a member of the Royal Commission
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
on Mines.
See also
- Ainsworth BaronetsAinsworth BaronetsThe Ainsworth Baronetcy, of Ardnanaiseig in the County of Argyll, is a title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 12 January 1917 for the industrialist, banker and Liberal politician John Ainsworth....
- List of baronetcies in the baronetage of the United Kingdom
- List of Old Gowers