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{{other people|Edward Wells}}
{{other people|Edward Wells}}
'''Edward Wells''' (1821 &ndash; 9 February 1910)<ref>{{Rayment-hc|w|1|date=June 2014}}</ref><ref name="times-death" />
'''Edward Wells''' (1821 &ndash; February 9, 1910)<ref>{{Rayment-hc|w|1|date=June 2014}}</ref><ref name="times-death" />
was an English businessman and [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] politician from [[Wallingford, Oxfordshire|Wallingford]], which was then in [[Berkshire]]. He sat in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom]] from 1872 to 1880.
was an English businessman and [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] politician from [[Wallingford, Oxfordshire|Wallingford]], which was then in [[Berkshire]]. He sat in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom]] from 1872 to 1880.


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| url = http://www.wallingford.co.uk/files/mp3_version_of_walk__final.pdf
| url = http://www.wallingford.co.uk/files/mp3_version_of_walk__final.pdf
| website = Wallingford
| website = Wallingford
| accessdate = 12 June 2014
| accessdate = June 12, 2014
| publisher = =Wallingford Partnership Ltd
| publisher = =Wallingford Partnership Ltd
}}</ref>
}}</ref>
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== Political career ==
== Political career ==
Wells was elected at a [[Wallingford by-election, 1872|by-election in March 1872]] as the [[Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Wallingford (UK Parliament constituency)|Wallingford]], filling the vacancy caused the death of the Conservative MP [[Stanley Vickers (MP)|Stanley Vickers]].<ref name="gazette-1872-by-election" /> The election took place in public, and the returning officer reminded voters that with a [[secret ballot]] about to be introduced, this was likely to be their last public election.<ref name="times-1872-election" />
Wells was elected at a [[Wallingford by-election, 1872|by-election in March 1872]] as the [[Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Wallingford (UK Parliament constituency)|Wallingford]], filling the vacancy caused the death of the Conservative MP [[Stanley Vickers (MP)|Stanley Vickers]].<ref name="gazette-1872-by-election" /> The election took place in public, and the returning officer reminded voters that with a [[secret ballot]] about to be introduced, this was likely to be their last public election.<ref name="times-1872-election" />
A Mr Moffat had been canvassing, with the intention of contesting the seat for the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]], but had withdrawn and left the town.<ref name="times-1872-03-02" />
A Mr Moffat had been canvassing, with the intention of contesting the seat for the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]], but had withdrawn and left the town.<ref name="times-1872-03-02" />
Wells was therefore the only candidate, so he was returned without a vote.<ref name="times-1872-election" /> In his acceptance speech he opposed [[secular education]], supported a reduction in [[income tax]], and denounced the [[Ballot Act 1872|Ballot Bill]] as "positively un-English".<ref name="times-1872-election" />
Wells was therefore the only candidate, so he was returned without a vote.<ref name="times-1872-election" /> In his acceptance speech he opposed [[secular education]], supported a reduction in [[income tax]], and denounced the [[Ballot Act 1872|Ballot Bill]] as "positively un-English".<ref name="times-1872-election" />
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That result was also the subject of a petition (though not by Wells), when it was found that voters had been bribed. However, it was not proven that the bribery had been done by an agent of Mr Ralli, so the election result was upheld.<ref name="times-1880-10-23" /><ref name="times-1880-10-26" />
That result was also the subject of a petition (though not by Wells), when it was found that voters had been bribed. However, it was not proven that the bribery had been done by an agent of Mr Ralli, so the election result was upheld.<ref name="times-1880-10-23" /><ref name="times-1880-10-26" />


In 1909, Wells was re-elected as a [[churchwarden]] of [[St Mary-le-More, Wallingford|St Mary's Church]] in Wallingford, for his 67th year in the post. This was claimed to be a record for the [[United Kingdom]].<ref name="times-1909-04-20" />
In 1909, Wells was re-elected as a [[churchwarden]] of [[St Mary-le-More, Wallingford|St Mary's Church]] in Wallingford, for his 67th year in the post. This was claimed to be a record for the UK.<ref name="times-1909-04-20" />


== References ==
== References ==
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| issue = 27314
| issue = 27314
| publisher = The Times Digital Archive
| publisher = The Times Digital Archive
| date = 2 March 1872
| date = March 2, 1872
| page = 11
| page = 11
| accessdate = 12 June 2014
| accessdate = June 12, 2014
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


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| issue = 27321
| issue = 27321
| publisher = The Times Digital Archive
| publisher = The Times Digital Archive
| date = 11 March 1872
| date = March 11, 1872
| page = 6
| page = 6
| accessdate = 12 June 2014
| accessdate = June 12, 2014
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


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| issue = 27322
| issue = 27322
| publisher = The Times Digital Archive
| publisher = The Times Digital Archive
| date = 12 March 1872
| date = March 12, 1872
| page = 7
| page = 7
| accessdate = 12 June 2014
| accessdate = June 12, 2014
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


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| issue = 29868
| issue = 29868
| publisher = The Times Digital Archive
| publisher = The Times Digital Archive
| date = 29 April 1880
| date = April 29, 1880
| pages = 15–16
| pages = 15–16
| accessdate = 12 June 2014
| accessdate = June 12, 2014
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


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| issue = 29912
| issue = 29912
| publisher = The Times Digital Archive
| publisher = The Times Digital Archive
| date = 19 June 1880
| date = June 19, 1880
| page = 12
| page = 12
| accessdate = 12 June 2014
| accessdate = June 12, 2014
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


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| issue = 29917
| issue = 29917
| publisher = The Times Digital Archive
| publisher = The Times Digital Archive
| date = 25 June 1880
| date = June 25, 1880
| page = 6
| page = 6
| accessdate = 12 June 2014
| accessdate = June 12, 2014
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


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| issue = 29922
| issue = 29922
| publisher = The Times Digital Archive
| publisher = The Times Digital Archive
| date = 1 July 1880
| date = July 1, 1880
| page = 12
| page = 12
| accessdate = 12 June 2014
| accessdate = June 12, 2014
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


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| issue = 30020
| issue = 30020
| publisher = The Times Digital Archive
| publisher = The Times Digital Archive
| date = 23 October 1880
| date = October 23, 1880
| page = 10
| page = 10
| accessdate = 12 June 2014
| accessdate = June 12, 2014
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


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| issue = 30022
| issue = 30022
| publisher = The Times Digital Archive
| publisher = The Times Digital Archive
| date = 26 October 1880
| date = October 26, 1880
| page = 11
| page = 11
| accessdate = 12 June 2014
| accessdate = June 12, 2014
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


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| issue = 38421
| issue = 38421
| publisher = The Times Digital Archive
| publisher = The Times Digital Archive
| date = 26 August 1907
| date = August 26, 1907
| page = 8
| page = 8
| accessdate = 12 June 2014
| accessdate = June 12, 2014
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


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| issue = 38938
| issue = 38938
| publisher = The Times Digital Archive
| publisher = The Times Digital Archive
| date = 20 April 1909
| date = April 20, 1909
| page = 9
| page = 9
| accessdate = 12 June 2014
| accessdate = June 12, 2014
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


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| issue = 39193
| issue = 39193
| publisher = The Times Digital Archive
| publisher = The Times Digital Archive
| date = 11 February 1910
| date = February 11, 1910
| page = 1
| page = 1
| accessdate = 12 June 2014
| accessdate = June 12, 2014
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


<ref name="gazette-1872-by-election">{{London Gazette
<ref name="gazette-1872-by-election">{{London Gazette
| issue = 23839
| issue = 23839
| date = 12 March 1872
| date = March 12, 1872
| startpage= 1403
| startpage= 1403
| accessdate = 12 June 2014
| accessdate = June 12, 2014
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


<ref name="gazette-1874-election">{{London Gazette
<ref name="gazette-1874-election">{{London Gazette
| issue = 24062
| issue = 24062
| date = 3 February 1874
| date = February 3, 1874
| startpage= 490
| startpage= 490
| accessdate = 12 June 2014
| accessdate = June 12, 2014
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


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| DATE OF BIRTH = 1821
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1821
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = 9 February 1910
| DATE OF DEATH = February 9, 1910
| PLACE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
}}

Revision as of 16:20, 13 July 2014

For other people named Edward Wells, see Edward Wells (disambiguation).

Edward Wells (1821 – February 9, 1910)[1][2] was an English businessman and Conservative Party politician from Wallingford, which was then in Berkshire. He sat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1872 to 1880.

Early life and family

He was the son of Edward Wells from Wallingford, where his family had lived since the early 18th century. He became a banker and brewer, and an alderman of the town.[3] His brother Thomas Frederick Wells (1837–1907) was also an alderman of the town, and served 4 times as its mayor.[4] The tall chimneys of their family business, the Wallingford Brewery, dominated the town's skyline.[5]

He married a niece of Sir Matthew Wood, a former Lord Mayor of London.[3]

Political career

Wells was elected at a by-election in March 1872 as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wallingford, filling the vacancy caused the death of the Conservative MP Stanley Vickers.[6] The election took place in public, and the returning officer reminded voters that with a secret ballot about to be introduced, this was likely to be their last public election.[7] A Mr Moffat had been canvassing, with the intention of contesting the seat for the Liberal Party, but had withdrawn and left the town.[8] Wells was therefore the only candidate, so he was returned without a vote.[7] In his acceptance speech he opposed secular education, supported a reduction in income tax, and denounced the Ballot Bill as "positively un-English".[7]

He was re-elected in 1874,[9] but at the general election in 1880 he was defeated by the Liberal candidate Walter Wren, by a margin of 581 votes to 542.[10]

Wells lodged a petition, alleging bribery and treating by his opponent and his agents.[11] The petition was upheld, and the election was declared void.[12] A by-election was held in July 1880, where Wells did not stand. The seat was won by another Liberal candidate, Pandeli Ralli.[13] That result was also the subject of a petition (though not by Wells), when it was found that voters had been bribed. However, it was not proven that the bribery had been done by an agent of Mr Ralli, so the election result was upheld.[14][15]

In 1909, Wells was re-elected as a churchwarden of St Mary's Church in Wallingford, for his 67th year in the post. This was claimed to be a record for the UK.[16]

References

  1. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "W" (part 1)
  2. ^ "Deaths". The Times. No. 39193. The Times Digital Archive. February 11, 1910. p. 1. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  3. ^ a b "The New MPs". The Times. No. 27322. The Times Digital Archive. March 12, 1872. p. 7. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  4. ^ "Obituary". The Times. No. 38421. The Times Digital Archive. August 26, 1907. p. 8. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  5. ^ "Introduction to Wallingford's History" (PDF). Wallingford. =Wallingford Partnership Ltd. Retrieved June 12, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  6. ^ "No. 23839". The London Gazette. March 12, 1872.
  7. ^ a b c "Election Intelligence". The Times. No. 27321. The Times Digital Archive. March 11, 1872. p. 6. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  8. ^ "Election Intelligence". The Times. No. 27314. The Times Digital Archive. March 2, 1872. p. 11. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  9. ^ "No. 24062". The London Gazette. February 3, 1874.
  10. ^ "Complete list of the results of the General Election". The Times. No. 29868. The Times Digital Archive. April 29, 1880. pp. 15–16. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  11. ^ "Election Petitions". The Times. No. 29912. The Times Digital Archive. June 19, 1880. p. 12. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  12. ^ "House Of Commons, Thursday, June 24". The Times. No. 29917. The Times Digital Archive. June 25, 1880. p. 6. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  13. ^ "Election Intelligenc". The Times. No. 29922. The Times Digital Archive. July 1, 1880. p. 12. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  14. ^ "Wallingford Election Petition". The Times. No. 30020. The Times Digital Archive. October 23, 1880. p. 10. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  15. ^ "Wallingford". The Times. No. 30022. The Times Digital Archive. October 26, 1880. p. 11. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  16. ^ "Ecclesiastical Intelligence". The Times. No. 38938. The Times Digital Archive. April 20, 1909. p. 9. Retrieved June 12, 2014.

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Wallingford
1872 – 1880 		Succeeded by

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