William Evans (politician)
Encyclopedia
William Evans was a Whig politician who sat in the House of Commons in three periods between 1818 and 1852.
Evans was the son of William Evans of Darley
and Elizabeth Strutt who was the daughter of Jedediah Strutt
of Belper
. The Evans family had made a fortune from lead mines at Bonsall
, and an iron slitting and rolling mill in Derby
and a cotton mill at Darley Abbey
. They also owned the Evans Bank in Derby.
Evans was Member of Parliament
(MP) for East Retford
from 1818 to 1820, and in 1826 unsuccessfully contested Leicester
at a cost of between £20,000 and £30,000. In 1830 a compromise was reached and Evans was returned for Leicester without a poll, the same happening in 1831 when Evans was a reformist. Evans was re-elected in the 1832 Reformed parliament, but lost his seat in 1835. He was then elected for North Derbyshire
in 1837 and held the seat until 1853, when he resigned by taking the Chiltern Hundreds
.
Evans became High Sheriff of Derbyshire
in 1829 and was also a Deputy Lieutenant
of Derbyshire
and J. P.
. He lived at Allestree Hall
and was philanthropic in his support of schools and churches.
Evans married Mary Gisborne, daughter of Rev. Thomas Gisborne
of Yoxall Lodge in July 1820. In 1850 he bought Pickford's House
in Derby from William Pickford. He left this house to his son Sir Thomas William Evans, 1st Baronet
who also became a Member of Parliament.
Evans was the son of William Evans of Darley
Darley Abbey
Darley Abbey is a village on the outskirts of Derby, England. The village is located on the River Derwent and is associated with the world heritage site of Derwent Valley Mills.- History :...
and Elizabeth Strutt who was the daughter of Jedediah Strutt
Jedediah Strutt
Jedediah Strutt or Jedidiah Strutt – as he spelt it – was a hosier and cotton spinner from Belper, England.Strutt and his brother-in-law William Woollat developed an attachment to the stocking frame that allowed the production of ribbed stockings...
of Belper
Belper
Belper is a town and civil parish in the local government district of Amber Valley in Derbyshire, England.-Geography:Belper is situated eight miles north of Derby and is centred in the valley of the River Derwent...
. The Evans family had made a fortune from lead mines at Bonsall
Bonsall, Derbyshire
Bonsall is a village and civil parish in the Derbyshire Dales on the edge of the Peak District.-Geography:Bonsall is about from Matlock and about from Derby...
, and an iron slitting and rolling mill in Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
and a cotton mill at Darley Abbey
Darley Abbey
Darley Abbey is a village on the outskirts of Derby, England. The village is located on the River Derwent and is associated with the world heritage site of Derwent Valley Mills.- History :...
. They also owned the Evans Bank in Derby.
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,...
(MP) 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...
from 1818 to 1820, and in 1826 unsuccessfully contested Leicester
Leicester (UK Parliament constituency)
Leicester was a parliamentary borough in Leicestershire, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1295 until 1918, when it was split into three single-member divisions.-History:...
at a cost of between £20,000 and £30,000. In 1830 a compromise was reached and Evans was returned for Leicester without a poll, the same happening in 1831 when Evans was a reformist. Evans was re-elected in the 1832 Reformed parliament, but lost his seat in 1835. He was then elected for North Derbyshire
North Derbyshire (UK Parliament constituency)
North Derbyshire was a Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom constituencies. It originally returned two Knights of the Shire to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
in 1837 and held the seat until 1853, when he resigned by taking the Chiltern Hundreds
Chiltern Hundreds
Appointment to the office of Crown Steward and Bailiff of the three Chiltern Hundreds of Stoke, Desborough and Burnham is a sinecure appointment which is used as a device allowing a Member of the United Kingdom Parliament to resign his or her seat...
.
Evans became High Sheriff of Derbyshire
High Sheriff of Derbyshire
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Derbyshire from 1568.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...
in 1829 and was also a 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 Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
and 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...
. He lived at Allestree Hall
Allestree Hall
Allestree Hall is a 19th century former country house situated in Allestree Park, Allestree, Derby. It is a Grade II* listed building but has been unoccupied for many years, and has been placed on the Buildings at Risk Register now the Heritage at Risk Register.The Mundy family owned the Manor of...
and was philanthropic in his support of schools and churches.
Evans married Mary Gisborne, daughter of Rev. Thomas Gisborne
Thomas Gisbourne
Thomas Gisborne was an Anglican divine, priest and poet. He was a member of the Clapham Sect, who fought for the abolition of the slave trade in England.-Life:...
of Yoxall Lodge in July 1820. In 1850 he bought Pickford's House
Pickford's House Museum
Pickford's House Museum of Georgian Life and Costume is in Derby, England-History:Pickford's House is at No 41 Friar Gate Derby,is an elegant Georgian town house built by the prominent architect Joseph Pickford in 1770 for his own family....
in Derby from William Pickford. He left this house to his son Sir Thomas William Evans, 1st Baronet
Sir Thomas William Evans, 1st Baronet
Sir Thomas William Evans, 1st Baronet was an English Liberal politician who represented the constituency of South Derbyshire....
who also became a Member of Parliament.