Edward Hodson Bayley (1841 – 7 March 1938) was a British businessman and

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. __TOC__ Active liberal parties This is a li ...

politician.

Early life

Born in

Accrington Accrington is a town in the Hyndburn borough of Lancashire, England. It lies about east of Blackburn, west of Burnley, east of Preston, north of Manchester and is situated on the culverted River Hyndburn. Commonly abbreviated by locals to ...

, Lancashire, he was the second son of the Reverend Dr Johnathon Bayley, a pastor with the

Swedenborgian The New Church (or Swedenborgianism) is any of several historically related Christian denominations that developed as a new religious group, influenced by the writings of scientist and mystic Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772). Swedenborgian or ...

New Church and his wife Lydia ''née'' Hodson. He was educated in England, France and Germany.

Business Interests

He moved to the south east suburbs of London and established E H Bayley & Co., waggon builders, at

Newington Causeway __NOTOC__ Newington Causeway is a road in Southwark, London, between the Elephant and Castle and Borough High Street. Elephant & Castle Underground station is at the southern end. It follows the route of the old Roman road Stane Street. In 19 ...

. In 1892 he was described as a "wheelwright and fire escape manufacturer". He was also the chairman of three other transport-related businesses: the West Metropolitan Tramways Company, the London Improved Cab Company and of the United Horseshoe and Nail Company. He also sat on the London board of the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States. His first wife was an American woman, Josephine Simon. After her death in 1881, Bayley founded the New Church Orphanage in her memory.

Political career

Bayley was active in the Liberal Party, and in

1886 Events January–March * January 1 – Upper Burma is formally annexed to British Burma, following its conquest in the Third Anglo-Burmese War of November 1885. * January 5– 9 – Robert Louis Stevenson's novella ''Strange ...

was chosen to contest the Camberwell North constituency, defending the seat of the retiring member of parliament,

Richard Strong Richard Strong (1833 – 30 January 1915) was an English Liberal politician. Strong was born at St George's-in-the-East, London, the son of a flour factor of Mark Lane, London. He became a J.P. for Surrey, and a governor of Dulwich College. I ...

. He described himself as a "thorough Home Ruler" and a supporter of

William Gladstone William Ewart Gladstone ( ; 29 December 1809 – 19 May 1898) was a British statesman and Liberal politician. In a career lasting over 60 years, he served for 12 years as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, spread over four non-conse ...

. Bayley had two opponents:

John Richards Kelly John Richards Kelly (28 February 1844 – 20 July 1922) was a British barrister and Conservative Party (UK), Conservative Party politician. He was the second son of Frederic Festus Kelly of Chessington, Surrey and his wife Harriet née Richards. ...

of the

Conservative Party The Conservative Party is a name used by many political parties around the world. These political parties are generally right-wing though their exact ideologies can range from center-right to far-right. Political parties called The Conservative P ...

and William Pirie Duff, described as a "Dissentient Liberal". Bayley was defeated, with Kelly gaining the seat with a majority of 365 votes. Despite his defeat, Bayley was unanimously readopted as prospective parliamentary candidate by the North Camberwell Liberal and Radical Association in March 1887. The next general election was held in

1892 Events January–March * January 1 – Ellis Island begins accommodating immigrants to the United States. * February 1 - The historic Enterprise Bar and Grill was established in Rico, Colorado. * February 27 – Rudolf Diesel applies for ...

, and he faced a straight fight against the incumbent, Kelly. A major issue in the election was the proposed extension of tramways over

Westminster Bridge Westminster Bridge is a road-and-foot-traffic bridge over the River Thames in London, linking Westminster on the west side and Lambeth on the east side. The bridge is painted predominantly green, the same colour as the leather seats in the H ...

: Bayley was strongly in favour of bringing the tramlines into south London, but Kelly was opposed. Bayley easily won the seat, with a majority of 845 votes over Kelly. In the following year Bayley was involved in a curious court case, having refused to pay the painter of his official portrait in

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of parliament. ...

. Bayley claimed that it was a poor likeness, and "only like him in the tie", while his wife objected to it as it did not make him look "intellectual" enough. The court found against Bayley. He was active in Parliamentary debates, questioning Government ministers on topics as varied as the state of

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, lifeboat services, and conditions of industrial workers. In 1894, he raised the question of the "great lack of school accommodation in Camberwell", his constituency. In June 1895 the Liberal government led by

Lord Rosebery Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, 1st Earl of Midlothian, (7 May 1847 – 21 May 1929) was a British Liberal Party politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from March 1894 to June 1895. Between the death of ...

lost a

vote of confidence A motion of no confidence, also variously called a vote of no confidence, no-confidence motion, motion of confidence, or vote of confidence, is a statement or vote about whether a person in a position of responsibility like in government or mana ...

. A

general election A general election is a political voting election where generally all or most members of a given political body are chosen. These are usually held for a nation, state, or territory's primary legislative body, and are different from by-elections ( ...

was duly called, and Bayley defended his seat against a new Conservative candidate, Major

Philip Dalbiac Philip Hugh Dalbiac (20 September 1856 – 28 April 1927) was a British army officer, publisher, author and Conservative Party politician. Early life He was the third son of Henry Eardley Aylmer Dalbiac of Durrington, West Sussex and his wife, ...

. A third candidate, Nelson Palmer, subsequently entered the contest, claiming to be "independent of party", but representing the labouring classes. The Conservatives secured a large majority at the election, and Bayley was one of many Liberal MPs to lose their seats. Dalbiac secured a majority of 693 votes over Bayley. Palmer's intervention had no effect, as he received only 32 votes.

Later life

Grave of Edward Hodson Bayley in Highgate Cemetery

Bayley continued to hold directorships in various transport businesses, although the United Horseshoe and Nail Company was wound up in 1909. He was chairman of the London Road Car Company and was a director of the Premier Omnibus Company. He died at

Peacehaven Peacehaven is a town and civil parish in the Lewes district of East Sussex, England. It is located above the chalk cliffs of the South Downs approximately six miles () east of Brighton city centre, on the A259 road. Its site coincides with the ...

, Sussex in March 1938 aged 96, and was buried in

Highgate Cemetery Highgate Cemetery is a place of burial in north London, England. There are approximately 170,000 people buried in around 53,000 graves across the West and East Cemeteries. Highgate Cemetery is notable both for some of the people buried there as ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bayley, Edward Hodson 1841 births Liberal Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies UK MPs 1892–1895 Burials at Highgate Cemetery People from Accrington 1938 deaths People from Peacehaven