Trevelyan Thomson
Encyclopedia
Trevelyan Thomson (30 April 1875 – 8 February 1928) was a British Liberal
Member of Parliament, iron and steel merchant and soldier.
in the West Riding of Yorkshire
and The Friends’ School, Bootham
in York
. He joined his father in business as iron and steel merchants in Albert Road, Middlesbrough
. In 1907 he married Hilda Mary Tolley, the daughter of a minister of religion from London. They had one son and a daughter.
. In 1914 he seemed a model Quaker citizen but the Middlesbrough Society of Friends took a strong anti-war stand in 1914 on the basis of the traditional Quaker belief that no war can be defended and Thomson dissented from this position, tendering his resignation from the Society. Thomson was too old to join up at the start of the war but he helped the military by encouraging recruiting. While individuals joining the armed forces might be tolerated by the Quakers, a member of the religion actively encouraging others to enlist while still publicly holding a position in the Society was too much and the Quakers disowned him. Although his membership was later restored, he rejected his re-instatement and resigned from the Society of Friends. By 1917 the army had relaxed its age rules for volunteers so Thomson enlisted in the Royal Engineers
. He served overseas reaching the rank of Sergeant but there was to be no reconciliation with the Society of Friends after the War ended.
and Edwardian successes, he wished to serve his community and his ambition through politics. He was an elected member of Middlesbrough County Borough
Council in 1904 and served until his death in 1928. He was also a Justice of Peace.
, the still serving Sergeant Thomson stood for election in Middlesbrough West
. There is disagreement as to his party affiliation. In The Times House of Commons, 1919 he was described as a Coalition Liberal although it seems unlikely that he received the government coupon. He certainly had no Conservative
opponent but he may have identified with the coalition because it had successfully prosecuted the war in which he had just served. In other sources he is described simply as a Liberal. He defeated his Labour
opponent by 10,958 votes to 5,350 – a majority of 5,608. At the 1922 general election
Thomson faced a National Liberal
candidate, i.e. one supporting the outgoing coalition prime minister David Lloyd George
but again won comfortably by 16,811 votes to 7,422 - a majority of 9,389. At the general election the following year
Thomson again faced no Tory candidate and easily beat his Labour opponent by 16,837 votes to 7,413 – a majority of 9,424.
because he was one of only a few Liberal MPs to establish a considerable personal following with his local electorate and he was well-known for his many Parliamentary interventions, questions to ministers and contributions to debate in the House of Commons. While the Liberal Party nationally was experiencing electoral meltdown, Thomson enjoyed the luxury of being returned unopposed. There was a rumour circulating after the election that Thomson was to be asked to stand down and cause a by-election
in Middlesbrough to make way for a return to the Commons by H H Asquith, who had lost his seat at Paisley
. Thomson certainly made a hasty trip down to London immediately after the election for political meetings but he denied he had been asked to stand aside and no such by-election ever took place. Asquith was made a peer
in 1925.
in July 1925 and the Trades Union Bill in February 1927 with further support for Labour on the intimidation clauses of that Bill in May 1927. He was also in agreement with Asquith’s support of the first Labour government of 1924.
The description of Thomson as a right-winger also seems at odd with his role in December 1924, as a founding member of the Radical Group of Liberal MPs. The Group was formed because Asquith had lost his seat and David Lloyd George
had become chair of the Parliamentary Liberal Party in his absence. Thomson had voted against Lloyd George for this post. The Radical MPs did not think Lloyd George to be reliable because of his past coalitions with the Tories. They associated themselves publicly with the proposals to support social reform and international peace. Clearly the Radical Group were no closet friends of the Conservative Party or of Baldwin’s administration, their resolution establishing the group plainly declaring the Liberal Party to be in Parliamentary opposition to the government in the House of Commons.
for reasons of ill health and he underwent an operation in 1927. Thomson was a personal friend of the Reverend P B Clayton
who founded the organisation Toc H
and Clayton took part in Thomson’s memorial service at St. Margaret’s Church, Westminster
.
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...
Member of Parliament, iron and steel merchant and soldier.
Family and education
Trevelyan Thomson (he rarely used his first name of Walter) was born in Stockton on Tees, the son of an iron founder and merchant. He was educated in the Quaker tradition at The Friends’ School, AckworthAckworth School
Ackworth School is an independent school located in the village of High Ackworth, near Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England. It is one of eight Quaker Schools in England. The school is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and SHMIS . The Head is Kathryn Bell, who succeeded...
in the West Riding of Yorkshire
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
and The Friends’ School, Bootham
Bootham School
Bootham School is an independent Quaker boarding school in the city of York in North Yorkshire, England. It was founded by the Religious Society of Friends in 1823. It is close to York Minster. The current headmaster is Jonathan Taylor. The school's motto Membra Sumus Corporis Magni means "We...
in York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
. He joined his father in business as iron and steel merchants in Albert Road, Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
. In 1907 he married Hilda Mary Tolley, the daughter of a minister of religion from London. They had one son and a daughter.
Retreat from Quakerism and the Great War
Thomson was a birthright Friend claiming Quaker connections back to the days of George FoxGeorge Fox
George Fox was an English Dissenter and a founder of the Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers or Friends.The son of a Leicestershire weaver, Fox lived in a time of great social upheaval and war...
. In 1914 he seemed a model Quaker citizen but the Middlesbrough Society of Friends took a strong anti-war stand in 1914 on the basis of the traditional Quaker belief that no war can be defended and Thomson dissented from this position, tendering his resignation from the Society. Thomson was too old to join up at the start of the war but he helped the military by encouraging recruiting. While individuals joining the armed forces might be tolerated by the Quakers, a member of the religion actively encouraging others to enlist while still publicly holding a position in the Society was too much and the Quakers disowned him. Although his membership was later restored, he rejected his re-instatement and resigned from the Society of Friends. By 1917 the army had relaxed its age rules for volunteers so Thomson enlisted in the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
. He served overseas reaching the rank of Sergeant but there was to be no reconciliation with the Society of Friends after the War ended.
Local politics
Thomson had become an established and respected Middlesbrough businessman and like so many other VictorianVictorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
and Edwardian successes, he wished to serve his community and his ambition through politics. He was an elected member of Middlesbrough County Borough
County borough
County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control. They were abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 in England and Wales, but continue in use for lieutenancy and shrievalty in...
Council in 1904 and served until his death in 1928. He was also a Justice of Peace.
Member of Parliament
Thomson graduated to Parliamentary politics at the end of the First World War. At the 1918 general electionUnited 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...
, the still serving Sergeant Thomson stood for election in Middlesbrough West
Middlesbrough West (UK Parliament constituency)
Middlesbrough West was a parliamentary constituency in the town of Middlesbrough in North East England. 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 voting system....
. There is disagreement as to his party affiliation. In The Times House of Commons, 1919 he was described as a Coalition Liberal although it seems unlikely that he received the government coupon. He certainly had no Conservative
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...
opponent but he may have identified with the coalition because it had successfully prosecuted the war in which he had just served. In other sources he is described simply as a Liberal. He defeated his Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
opponent by 10,958 votes to 5,350 – a majority of 5,608. At the 1922 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1922
The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John...
Thomson faced a National Liberal
National Liberal Party (UK, 1922)
The National Liberal Party was a liberal political party in the United Kingdom from 1922 to 1923. It was led by David Lloyd George and was, at the time, separate to the original Liberal Party.-History:...
candidate, i.e. one supporting the outgoing coalition prime minister David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
but again won comfortably by 16,811 votes to 7,422 - a majority of 9,389. At the general election the following year
United Kingdom general election, 1923
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
Thomson again faced no Tory candidate and easily beat his Labour opponent by 16,837 votes to 7,413 – a majority of 9,424.
The 1924 general election
Thomson held his seat in the 1924 electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1924
- Seats summary :- References :* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* - External links :* * *...
because he was one of only a few Liberal MPs to establish a considerable personal following with his local electorate and he was well-known for his many Parliamentary interventions, questions to ministers and contributions to debate in the House of Commons. While the Liberal Party nationally was experiencing electoral meltdown, Thomson enjoyed the luxury of being returned unopposed. There was a rumour circulating after the election that Thomson was to be asked to stand down and cause 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....
in Middlesbrough to make way for a return to the Commons by H H Asquith, who had lost his seat at Paisley
Paisley (UK Parliament constituency)
Paisley was a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 until 1983, when it was divided into Paisley North and Paisley South...
. Thomson certainly made a hasty trip down to London immediately after the election for political meetings but he denied he had been asked to stand aside and no such by-election ever took place. Asquith was made a peer
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...
in 1925.
Political position
Thomson has been described by one historian as a ‘right-wing Liberal who received prolonged Conservative support’ Despite this he did vote with the Labour Party in Parliament from time to time. Significantly these occasions included Labour’s vote of censure against the Tory administration of Stanley BaldwinStanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC was a British Conservative politician, who dominated the government in his country between the two world wars...
in July 1925 and the Trades Union Bill in February 1927 with further support for Labour on the intimidation clauses of that Bill in May 1927. He was also in agreement with Asquith’s support of the first Labour government of 1924.
The description of Thomson as a right-winger also seems at odd with his role in December 1924, as a founding member of the Radical Group of Liberal MPs. The Group was formed because Asquith had lost his seat and David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
had become chair of the Parliamentary Liberal Party in his absence. Thomson had voted against Lloyd George for this post. The Radical MPs did not think Lloyd George to be reliable because of his past coalitions with the Tories. They associated themselves publicly with the proposals to support social reform and international peace. Clearly the Radical Group were no closet friends of the Conservative Party or of Baldwin’s administration, their resolution establishing the group plainly declaring the Liberal Party to be in Parliamentary opposition to the government in the House of Commons.
Death
Thomson died at nursing home in London aged 52 on 8 February 1928 having collapsed following a severe operation a week earlier. His health had been poor for a while. In November 1926 he had to decline the offer of being an assistant Liberal WhipWhip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
for reasons of ill health and he underwent an operation in 1927. Thomson was a personal friend of the Reverend P B Clayton
Philip Clayton
The Reverend Philip Thomas Byard Clayton CH was an Anglican clergyman and the founder of Toc H....
who founded the organisation Toc H
Toc H
Toc H is an international Christian movement. The name is an abbreviation for Talbot House, 'Toc' signifying the letter T in the signals spelling alphabet used by the British Army in World War I. A soldiers' rest and recreation centre named Talbot House was founded in December 1915 at Poperinghe,...
and Clayton took part in Thomson’s memorial service at St. Margaret’s Church, Westminster
St. Margaret's, Westminster
The Anglican church of St. Margaret, Westminster Abbey is situated in the grounds of Westminster Abbey on Parliament Square, and is the parish church of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom in London...
.