Sir Mathew Wilson, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Mathew Wilson,1st baronet (29 August 1802 -18 January 1891) was an English landowner and Liberal
politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1842 and 1886.
Wilson was the son of Mathew Wilson, a solicitor of Eshton Hall and his wife Mary Clive Wilson. His father and mother were first cousins. He was educated at Harrow School
and Brasenose College, Oxford
. He became a J.P.
at the age of 22, and became the longest serving magistrate in Skipton's history at the time of his death aged 88.
Wilson was elected in 1841 as Member of Parliament
for Clitheroe
but was unseated in 1842. He stood again in 1847 and regained Clitheroe, but after the 1852 election was unseated again in 1853. Notwithstanding these incidents of electoral malpractice, he was created a baronet
on 16 March 1874 and later that year was elected as MP for West Riding of Yorkshire North. He held the seat until it was split up under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
. In the 1885 general election, he was then elected for Skipton
which he held until his defeat in 1886. He also became Deputy Lieutenant
and Chairman of the Board of Guardians.
Wilson died at Brighton aged 88
He married, June Louisa Emerson Amcotts, only daughter of Sir Wharton Emerson Amcotts, Bart
, of Kettlethorpe Park, Lincolnshire, on 15 June 1826. They had a son Mathew (1827–1909) who succeeded to the baronetcy. She died in 1833 and many years later Wilson married Frances Pedler. His son Mathew married Gratiana Mary Thomas, daughter of Admiral Richard Darton Thomas
(1777–1857).
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 who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1842 and 1886.
Wilson was the son of Mathew Wilson, a solicitor of Eshton Hall and his wife Mary Clive Wilson. His father and mother were first cousins. He was educated at Harrow School
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 Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...
. He became a J.P.
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...
at the age of 22, and became the longest serving magistrate in Skipton's history at the time of his death aged 88.
Wilson was elected in 1841 as Member 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,...
for Clitheroe
Clitheroe (UK Parliament constituency)
Clitheroe was a parliamentary constituency in Lancashire.The town of Clitheroe was first enfranchised as a parliamentary borough in 1559, returning two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of England until 1707, then to the House of Commons of Great Britain until 1800, and finally to the...
but was unseated in 1842. He stood again in 1847 and regained Clitheroe, but after the 1852 election was unseated again in 1853. Notwithstanding these incidents of electoral malpractice, he was created a baronet
Wilson Baronets
There have been eight Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Wilson, one in the Baronetage of Ireland and six in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom.-Wilsons Baronets, of Killenure :...
on 16 March 1874 and later that year was elected as MP for West Riding of Yorkshire North. He held the seat until it was split up 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...
. In the 1885 general election, he was then elected for Skipton
Skipton (UK Parliament constituency)
Skipton was a county constituency centred on the town of Skipton in Yorkshire which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
which he held until his defeat in 1886. He also became 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....
and Chairman of the Board of Guardians.
Wilson died at Brighton aged 88
He married, June Louisa Emerson Amcotts, only daughter of Sir Wharton Emerson Amcotts, Bart
Amcotts Baronets
The Amcotts Baronetcy, of Kettlethorp in the County of Lincoln, was created in the Baronetage of Great Britain on 11 May 1796 for Wharton Amcotts. He represented Bedford in the House of Commons...
, of Kettlethorpe Park, Lincolnshire, on 15 June 1826. They had a son Mathew (1827–1909) who succeeded to the baronetcy. She died in 1833 and many years later Wilson married Frances Pedler. His son Mathew married Gratiana Mary Thomas, daughter of Admiral Richard Darton Thomas
Richard Darton Thomas
Admiral Richard Darton Thomas was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Station.-Naval career:...
(1777–1857).