William Beckett-Denison
Encyclopedia
William Beckett-Denison was an English banker and Conservative
politician who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1876 and 1890. He died when he fell under a train.
Denison was the son of Sir Edmund Beckett, 4th Baronet
, of Grimthorpe, Yorkshire and his wife Maria Beverley, daughter of William Beverley. He was head of banking firm of Beckett & Co at Leeds, Doncaster and Retford, and of the East Riding Bank at Beverley and Malton. He was a captain in the Yorkshire Hussar Yeomanry Cavalry and a J.P.
and Deputy Lieutenant
for the West Riding of Yorkshire.
In 1876 Denison was elected Member of Parliament
for East Retford
but lost the seat in 1880. At the 1885 general election
he was elected MP for Bassetlaw
. He held the seat until his death in 1890.
Denison died at the age of 64 when he fell under a train at Wimborne. He had arrived at Wimborne railway station
to change trains for Bournemouth, and while waiting went for a walk. He was walking beside the track on the way back to the station when a strong wind blew his hat off and he fell almost immediately under the train. His body was cut to pieces and carried some 56 feet.
Denison married the Hon. Helen Duncombe, daughter of William Duncombe, 2nd Baron Feversham
in 1855. They were the parents of Sir Gervase Beckett, 1st Baronet
. Following his death a Mrs Gertrude Beatrice Brinkworth alleged she was his mistress and mother of his adopted children and sued his executors. Some money was paid but the case came before court and the jury declared Mrs Brinkworth's case to be a 'swindle' and rejected her claims even before the evidence in the case had been completed.
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...
politician who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1876 and 1890. He died when he fell under a train.
Denison was the son of Sir Edmund Beckett, 4th Baronet
Sir Edmund Beckett, 4th Baronet
Sir Edmund Beckett, 4th Baronet , known until 1816 as Edmund Beckett and from 1816 until 1872 as Edmund Beckett Denison, was a younger son of Sir John Beckett, 1st Baronet and brother of Sir John Beckett, 2nd Baronet....
, of Grimthorpe, Yorkshire and his wife Maria Beverley, daughter of William Beverley. He was head of banking firm of Beckett & Co at Leeds, Doncaster and Retford, and of the East Riding Bank at Beverley and Malton. He was a captain in the Yorkshire Hussar Yeomanry Cavalry and 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...
and 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....
for the West Riding of Yorkshire.
In 1876 Denison was elected 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 East Retford
East Retford (UK Parliament constituency)
East Retford was a parliamentary constituency in Nottinghamshire, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons for the first time in 1316, and continuously from 1571 until 1885, when the constituency was abolished...
but lost the seat in 1880. At the 1885 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1885
-Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:...
he was elected MP for Bassetlaw
Bassetlaw (UK Parliament constituency)
Bassetlaw is a parliamentary 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:...
. He held the seat until his death in 1890.
Denison died at the age of 64 when he fell under a train at Wimborne. He had arrived at Wimborne railway station
Wimborne railway station
Wimborne was a railway station in Wimborne Minster in the county of Dorset in England. Open from 1 June 1847 to 2 May 1977, it was sited just north of the River Stour in what is still Station Road. Built for the Southampton and Dorchester Railway, the station was operated from the start by the...
to change trains for Bournemouth, and while waiting went for a walk. He was walking beside the track on the way back to the station when a strong wind blew his hat off and he fell almost immediately under the train. His body was cut to pieces and carried some 56 feet.
Denison married the Hon. Helen Duncombe, daughter of William Duncombe, 2nd Baron Feversham
William Duncombe, 2nd Baron Feversham
William Duncombe, 2nd Baron Feversham was a British peer and Tory politician.-Background:Feversham was the eldest son of Charles Duncombe, 1st Baron Feversham, and Lady Charlotte, daughter of William Legge, 2nd Earl of Dartmouth. The Hon. Arthur Duncombe and the Hon...
in 1855. They were the parents of Sir Gervase Beckett, 1st Baronet
Sir Gervase Beckett, 1st Baronet
Sir William Gervase Beckett, 1st Baronet , born William Gervase Beckett-Denison, was a British banker and Conservative politician.-Business Career:...
. Following his death a Mrs Gertrude Beatrice Brinkworth alleged she was his mistress and mother of his adopted children and sued his executors. Some money was paid but the case came before court and the jury declared Mrs Brinkworth's case to be a 'swindle' and rejected her claims even before the evidence in the case had been completed.