Colonel James Dampier Palmer MP (6 September 1851 – 18 October 1899), was an English businessman,

British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...

officer, and a Progressive-

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...

politician.

Early years

Palmer's father was William Palmer of Bury House,

Romford Romford is a large town in east London and the administrative centre of the London Borough of Havering. It is located northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. Historically, Romfo ...

Essex Essex () is a county in the East of England. One of the home counties, it borders Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to the north, the North Sea to the east, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent across the estuary of the River Thames to the south, and Grea ...

and his mother was Jane Michel Trestrail. He was educated at

Felsted School (Keep your Faith) , established = , closed = , type = Public schoolIndependent day and boarding , religion = Church of England , president = , head_label = Headmaster , head = Chris Townsend , r_head_l ...

Career

Palmer worked in the banking firm and family business of Messrs. Palmer & Co., in Stratford and became its Chairman. He was also a Director of Hatch, Mansfield & Co., Ltd. of London, S.W. Palmer was a Justice of the peace for

Kent Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...

and

West Ham West Ham is an area in East London, located east of Charing Cross in the west of the modern London Borough of Newham. The area, which lies immediately to the north of the River Thames and east of the River Lea, was originally an ancient ...

. During his political career, he served as a Member of Parliament for Gravesend on 8 July 1892 – 2 July 1898, leaving his seat in Parliament before the end of his second term as he had accepted the Stewardship of the three Chiltern Hundreds. As a result, a by-election was held 13 July 1898. He also served in the Volunteer Forces of the British Army. He was first commissioned as a supernumerary sub-lieutenant in the 5th Essex Rifle Volunteer Corps on 2 August 1876, and resigned that commission on 5 September 1877. He was later appointed Honorary Colonel of the 3rd Volunteer (Kent) Brigade, Cinque Ports Division,

Royal Artillery The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery (RA) and colloquially known as "The Gunners", is one of two regiments that make up the artillery arm of the British Army. The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises t ...

Personal life

He married Isabella Elizabeth Curteis Whelan (b. 20 November 1852) in 1874. Elizabeth's maternal grandfather was

James Planché James Robinson Planché (27 February 1796 – 30 May 1880) was a British dramatist, antiquary and officer of arms. Over a period of approximately 60 years he wrote, adapted, or collaborated on 176 plays in a wide range of genres including ...

, a British

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has b ...

tist, antiquary and

officer of arms An officer of arms is a person appointed by a sovereign or state with authority to perform one or more of the following functions: * to control and initiate armorial matters; * to arrange and participate in ceremonies of state; * to conserve a ...

. Palmer and his wife had at least two children. Their only son was Vivian Trestrail Dampier Palmer, O.B.E. (b. 1876). A daughter was named Maud Isabel Dampier. In 1891 when as prospective Member of Parliament for Gravesend he presented the Dampier-Palmer Cup which was competed for by local football clubs, until 2009, to raise money for local charities. Palmer had multiple residences including 7 Park Place, St. James, S.W.; 31 Bruswick Terrace, Brighton; and Heronden Hall,

Tenterden Tenterden is a town in the borough of Ashford in Kent, England. It stands on the edge of the remnant forest the Weald, overlooking the valley of the River Rother. It was a member of the Cinque Ports Confederation. Its riverside today is not ...

. He belonged to several clubs such as the

Carlton Club The Carlton Club is a private members' club in St James's, London. It was the original home of the Conservative Party before the creation of Conservative Central Office. Membership of the club is by nomination and election only. History The ...

, Junior Carlton Club,

Bath Club The Bath Club was a sports-themed London gentlemen's club in the 20th century. It was established in 1894 at 34 Dover Street. Its swimming pool was a noted feature, and it is thought that the swimming pool of the fictional Drones Club (also on D ...

, and Coaching Club. He died at age 48 at Brighton on 16 October 1899. A brass plate commemorating Palmer's donations to the parish, including chancel screen, choir seats, choir screens, the lectern, and the pulpit, is located at the Parish Church of St. Mildred in Tenterden.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Palmer, James Dampier 1851 births 1899 deaths People educated at Felsted School Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies UK MPs 1892–1895 UK MPs 1895–1900 Volunteer Force officers People from Stratford, London