Samuel Carter (11 November 1814 – 30 December 1903) was a British

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politician and lawyer.

Early life and career

Carter was the only son of John Carter and Sarah Green, daughter of John Laimbeer. He began his career in his family tannery business, but in 1844 quit to pursue a legal career, entering

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as a student in 1844, and being called to the bar in 1847. He practiced on the Western Circuit, where he often acted as defence counsel.

Political career

He first stood for election

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, seeking election on both a Radical and Chartist platform, as well as seeking the extension of the franchise including to women, in

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but was not elected until a by-election in April 1852. He campaigned on the grounds of judicial scrutiny, using his legal background. Yet, within nine weeks of his election, parliament was dissolved before he had even taken his seat. While he was also returned at the general election in July of the same year, this was declared void on 21 February 1853 as he was "not duly qualified". A House of Commons select committee found that, despite Carter owning a home, a tannery, and shares in the local gas company, as well as a bank balance of £47 12 s and 8 d, he did not meet the property qualification and was unseated. Instead,

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was elected in his place. Nevertheless, during this brief period of his career, Carter did cause furore in the Commons, after this time being able to take his seat. On 16 November 1852, he complained of the £80,000 cost for the funeral of the

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, five times more than to bury

Lord Nelson Vice-admiral (Royal Navy), Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronte (29 September 1758 – 21 October 1805) was a British people, British flag officer in the Royal Navy. His inspirational leadership, grasp of strate ...

. Five years after his unseating, Parliament removed the property qualification for MPs.

Later life

Carter, having been unseated, resumed his legal career, becoming a revising barrister - involving checking electoral rolls - before losing that job in 1894 after causing offence to too many people. He married Caroline Bennison, daughter of John W Bennison, in 1858, and together they had one child: Reginald Llewellyn Bennison.

References

External links

* (''Note: This source incorrectly confuses with

Samuel Carter (Coventry MP) Samuel Carter (15 May 1805 – 31 January 1878) was a Member of Parliament for his native city of Coventry, and solicitor to two major railway companies (the London and North Western Railway and Midland Railway) for nearly four decades during t ...

'') {{DEFAULTSORT:Carter, Samuel Lawyers from Devon Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Tavistock UK MPs 1847–1852 UK MPs 1852–1857 1814 births 1903 deaths