Thomas William Dobson JP (9 November 1853 – 13 May 1935)
was a coal merchant and
Liberal
Liberal or liberalism may refer to:
Politics
* a supporter of liberalism
** Liberalism by country
* an adherent of a Liberal Party
* Liberalism (international relations)
* Sexually liberal feminism
* Social liberalism
Arts, entertainment and m ...
Member of Parliament
A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members of ...
(MP) representing
Plymouth
Plymouth () is a port city and unitary authority in South West England. It is located on the south coast of Devon, approximately south-west of Exeter and south-west of London. It is bordered by Cornwall to the west and south-west.
Plymouth ...
from 1906 to 1910.
Background
Dobson was born the son of Thomas and Maria Dobson of Hackney.
[(2007, December 01). Dobson, Thomas William, (9 Nov. 1853–13 May 1935), JP Borough of Croydon. WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. Ed. Retrieved 31 Mar. 2019, from http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540891.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-208647.] He was educated at Congregational School, Hackney. In 1875 he married Caroline Jane Potterveld of Hackney. He settled in Park Hill Road, Croydon.
Professional career
Dobson was the senior partner in the firm of Godson & Dobson, coal and timber merchants of Croydon.
Political career
Dobson was a member of Croydon School Board from 1879 to 1885. He was a member of Croydon Council from 1885 to 1905. He served as a
Justice of the peace
A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or ''puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the sa ...
in Croydon.
He was Liberal candidate for the
Plymouth
Plymouth () is a port city and unitary authority in South West England. It is located on the south coast of Devon, approximately south-west of Exeter and south-west of London. It is bordered by Cornwall to the west and south-west.
Plymouth ...
division of
Devon
Devon ( , historically known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England. The most populous settlement in Devon is the city of Plymouth, followed by Devon's county town, the city of Exeter. Devon is ...
at the 1906 General Election. He introduced and carried in Parliament,
Willett's Daylight Saving Bill.
He did not seek re-election at Plymouth at the following general election in January 1910. He was chosen as Liberal candidate for the
1912 Nottingham East by-election
The Nottingham East by-election was a UK Parliamentary by-elections, Parliamentary by-election held on 19 April 1912. It returned one Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, H ...
. This was a Conservative seat, however he managed to reduce the Unionist majority at the by-election. He switched back contest the new seat of Plymouth Drake at the 1918 election. However, the Coalition government endorsement went to his Tory opponent and he came second. He then switched to contest Croydon South, his own local constituency, in 1922, not a promising seat and finished in third place. He did not stand for parliament again.
Electoral record
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dobson, Thomas William
1853 births
1935 deaths
UK MPs 1906–1910
Liberal Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies
Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Plymouth