Edmund Bartley-Denniss
Encyclopedia
Sir Edmund Robert Bartley Bartley-Denniss KC (9 April 1854 – 20 March 1931), born Edmund Robert Bartley Denniss, was a barrister
, prominent Freemason and Conservative Party
Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom. He was also a pioneer of the sport of Cycling in Britain.
He was elected Member of Parliament
(MP) for Oldham
at a the Oldham by-election in 1911, and held the seat until he stood down at the 1922 general election
. He was knight
ed in April 1922, having changed his surname by deed poll
on 4 January 1922 from Denniss to Bartley-Denniss. He was appointed King's Counsel on 25 October 1922.
(d.1422), of Siston
, Gloucestershire, probably via Thomas Dennis(d.post 1603) of the City of Gloucester, 2nd. son of Sir Walter Denys(1501-1571) of Dyrham
, Gloucestershire, whose extensive property holdings in that city (inherited from his wife's uncle Sir Thomas Bell the Elder
(1486-1566), thrice mayor of Gloucester) were destroyed during the Civil War.
, Wren's and Hertford College, Oxford
. He was elected Scholar in Natural Science at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
, and compiled later in life Flora of Middlesex. He was a keen athlete at university, running the 100 yds. in 10.25 secs. and being good at 200 yds, fair at 400yds. He was a pioneer of British cyling, founding the Oxford University Bicycle Club
in 1874.
He also participated in riding, swimming, boxing and fencing.
, and was called to the Bar in 1879, when he joined the Northern Circuit. He was appointed KC on 25th October 1922. He was a Freeman of the City of London
, a member of the London Court of Arbitration
and of the London Chamber of Commerce
and of the Chambers of Commerce of Oldham and Uxbridge.
, which he later served as chairman. Under his chairmanship a new main drainage system was installed in Hendon, which works he officially opened in presence of William Gladstone, who had taken an interest in the scheme. He was also a member of Middlesex County Council
, representing Harrow-on-the-Hill.
, Lancashire, probably having been introduced to the constituency by his father-in-law who had served as Mayor of Oldham. However the next year in 1911 he won a remarkable by-election in the same constituency, and took his seat in the House of Commons. He spoke in many debates, especially those concerned with the Lancashire cotton industry. He was a member of the Commercial Committee of the House and of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. At the start of WWI he assisted the Chancellor of the Exchequer with the "Courts (Emergency Powers) Bill", and helped to set up the "Foreign Debts Scheme", which allowed British companies with debts due by enemy nations to obtain compensatory government financing. He retained the seat of Oldham until he stood down at the 1922 General Election. He was Treasurer of the Air League of the British Empire, and a member of the Carlton
, Conservative, 1900, Cecil, Unionist and Yorick Clubs.
, a Life Governor of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls
, and the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution
and Vice-President of the Fund of Benevolence of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons.
His career began with his initiation in the Thames Valley Lodge, no.1460, Hampton Court in 1888, where he was installed Master in 1893. He was a Founder, Past Master and Honourary Member of the Willesden Lodge, no.2489(1893); Founder and First Master, subsequently installed a 2nd time, of Herga Lodge, no. 2548, Harrow; Founder and Past Master of the Jubilee Masters Lodge, no.2712,(1898); Founder and First Master and an Honorary Member of the Yorick Lodge, no.2771 (1899); Founder of the Middlesex Masters Lodge, no.3420, Twickenham (1909); Past Master of the Burlington Lodge, no.96, and a Joining Member of the Northern Bar Lodge, no.1610, the Christ's Hospital Lodge, no.2650, the Empire Lodge, no. 2108; and the Abercorn Lodge, no.1549, Stanmore. He was a Consecrating Officer and Honorary Member of the Wembley Lodge, no.2914, Wembley(1902) and the King Alfred Lodge, no.2945, Edmonton (1903). He was an Honorary Member of the Unity Lodge, no.1637, Harrow. In 1896 he was invested as Provincial Grand Warden of Middlesex, and in 1902 was appointed Past Grand Deacon of England.
As a Royal Arch Mason
he was exalted in the Royal Middlesex Chapter, no.1194, Hampton Court in 1893 in which he was twice installed as First Principal. He was a Founder and Past First Principal of the Willesden Chapter, no.2489(1895) and a Founder of the Inns of Court Chapter, no.1610(1905). He was a Past Provincial Third Grand Principal of Middlesex, and in 1902 was appointed Past Grand Standard Bearer
of England, being promoted to the rank of Past Assistant Grand Sojourner
in 1912.
In the Degree of Mark Master Mason he was advanced in the Royal Savoy Lodge, no.355, in which he was installed Master. In 1907 he was invested as Grand Steward of England.
In the Ancient and Accepted Rite
(Scottish Rite) he was perfected in the Rose and Lily Rose Croix Chapter, no.97, in which he was installed as Sovereign. In 1909 he was admitted to the Chapter, no.97, in which he was installed as Sovereign. In 1909 he was admitted to the 30th Degree.
In the Allied Masonic Degrees
he was a member of the Stewart Council, no 16, London.
is in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery, London (NPG x83602). He had 8 children, 3 daughters and 5 sons, 3 of whom were killed in action:
, a tank specialist, of Eversley, Hants and Barnstaple, Devon. He was author of Index to Penfold's MS Sussex Pedigrees (1930). Cyril's eldest son, born at Barnstaple, Devon, was Col. George Arthur Bartley-Denniss(1916-1976), Royal Artillery, who was taken prisoner of war in WWII, and was approved by the King in 1946 to be "Mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished services while Prisoner of War".
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
, prominent Freemason and Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom. He was also a pioneer of the sport of Cycling in Britain.
He was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Oldham
Oldham (UK Parliament constituency)
Oldham was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Oldham, England. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
at a the Oldham by-election in 1911, and held the seat until he stood down at the 1922 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1922
The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John...
. He was knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed in April 1922, having changed his surname by deed poll
Deed poll
A deed poll is a legal document binding only to a single person or several persons acting jointly to express an active intention...
on 4 January 1922 from Denniss to Bartley-Denniss. He was appointed King's Counsel on 25 October 1922.
Family Background
Edmund Denniss was the eldest son of Edmund Pinnock Denniss, b. Cape of Good Hope (5th son of Lt.Col. George Hamson Denniss(1758-1821) 43rd Light Infantry, and his 2nd wife Harriet Matilda Pickersgill) and Caroline Bartley(1826-1877), da. of General Sir Robert Bartley(1789-1843). George Hamson Denniss was born in Jamaica, one of 12 children of Digby Denniss (d.1779), of Marley Mount, Salt Ponds, St Catherine's, J.P. for Port Royal, and Sarah Sandys. Digby's father was Johnathan Denniss(1700-1736) (or Dennis) a factor of the South Sea Company, later of Kingston, Jamaica, born in the parish of St. Helens, Bishopsgate, London. The family used a crest of a leopard's head erased proper with the armourials of Dennis of Gloucestershire, 3 leopards faces jessant-de-lys a bend engrailled overall, but differenced by omission of the bend. The family is likely to have descended from Sir Gilbert DenysGilbert Denys, knight
Sir Gilbert Denys of Siston, Gloucestershire, was a soldier, and later an administrator. He was knighted by Jan 1385, and was twice knight of the shire for Gloucestershire constituency, in 1390 and 1395 and served as High Sheriff of Gloucestershire 1393-4...
(d.1422), of Siston
Siston
Siston is a small village in South Gloucestershire, England east of Bristol Castle, ancient centre of Bristol, recorded historically as Syston, Sistone, Syton, Sytone and Systun etc. The village lies at the confluence of the two sources of the Siston Brook, a tributary of the River Avon...
, Gloucestershire, probably via Thomas Dennis(d.post 1603) of the City of Gloucester, 2nd. son of Sir Walter Denys(1501-1571) of Dyrham
Dyrham Park
Dyrham Park is a baroque mansion in an ancient deer park near the village of Dyrham in Gloucestershire, England. For the history of the manor of Dyrham, see main article Dyrham.-Description:...
, Gloucestershire, whose extensive property holdings in that city (inherited from his wife's uncle Sir Thomas Bell the Elder
Thomas Bell (Mayor of Gloucester)
Sir Thomas Bell the Elder was an English cap manufacturer, mayor of Gloucester and MP. He was a manufacturer of caps in Gloucester and one of the city's largest employers and wealthiest citizens and a great benefactor of the city and its people. He is described in contemporaneous documents as a...
(1486-1566), thrice mayor of Gloucester) were destroyed during the Civil War.
Education
Edmund was educated at Christ's HospitalChrist's Hospital
Christ's Hospital is an English coeducational independent day and boarding school with Royal Charter located in the Sussex countryside just south of Horsham in Horsham District, West Sussex, England...
, Wren's and Hertford College, Oxford
Hertford College, Oxford
Hertford College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is located in Catte Street, directly opposite the main entrance of the original Bodleian Library. As of 2006, the college had a financial endowment of £52m. There are 612 students , plus various visiting...
. He was elected Scholar in Natural Science at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Sidney Sussex College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England.The college was founded in 1596 and named after its foundress, Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex. It was from its inception an avowedly Puritan foundation: some good and godlie moniment for the mainteynance...
, and compiled later in life Flora of Middlesex. He was a keen athlete at university, running the 100 yds. in 10.25 secs. and being good at 200 yds, fair at 400yds. He was a pioneer of British cyling, founding the Oxford University Bicycle Club
Oxford University Cycling Club
Oxford University Cycling Club was founded in 1873, making it one of the oldest cycling clubs in the United Kingdom.Cycling is a discretionary full blue sport at Oxford University, with half blues awarded to the three riders comprising the fastest Oxford team in the Varsity Match against...
in 1874.
He also participated in riding, swimming, boxing and fencing.
Legal Career
Denniss entered the Middle TempleMiddle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
, and was called to the Bar in 1879, when he joined the Northern Circuit. He was appointed KC on 25th October 1922. He was a Freeman of the City of London
Freedom of the City
Freedom of the City is an honour bestowed by some municipalities in Australia, Canada, Ireland, France, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, Gibraltar and Rhodesia to esteemed members of its community and to organisations to be honoured, often for service to the community;...
, a member of the London Court of Arbitration
London Court of International Arbitration
The London Court of International Arbitration is an institution based in London, United Kingdom providing the service of international arbitration....
and of the London Chamber of Commerce
London Chamber of Commerce & Industry
The London Chamber of Commerce & Industry was established on 25 July 1881 at Mansion House in the City of London with 130 members. The London Chamber represented the London Metropolis and not just the City of London. Many of the original 130 members still play a role in London Chamber today...
and of the Chambers of Commerce of Oldham and Uxbridge.
Local Politics
Denniss was elected to Hendon Urban District CouncilMunicipal Borough of Hendon
Hendon was an ancient civil parish of around which included Mill Hill, as well as Golders Green and Childs Hill. In 1894 it was created an urban district of Middlesex and in 1932 it became a municipal borough...
, which he later served as chairman. Under his chairmanship a new main drainage system was installed in Hendon, which works he officially opened in presence of William Gladstone, who had taken an interest in the scheme. He was also a member of Middlesex County Council
Middlesex County Council
Middlesex County Council was the principal local government body in the administrative county of Middlesex from 1889 to 1965.The county council was created by the Local Government Act 1888, which also removed the most populous part of the county to constitute the County of London...
, representing Harrow-on-the-Hill.
National Politics
In 1910 Denniss unsuccessfully stood as a Conservative (Unionist) for election to Parliament for OldhamOldham
Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amid the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock, south-southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of the city of Manchester...
, Lancashire, probably having been introduced to the constituency by his father-in-law who had served as Mayor of Oldham. However the next year in 1911 he won a remarkable by-election in the same constituency, and took his seat in the House of Commons. He spoke in many debates, especially those concerned with the Lancashire cotton industry. He was a member of the Commercial Committee of the House and of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. At the start of WWI he assisted the Chancellor of the Exchequer with the "Courts (Emergency Powers) Bill", and helped to set up the "Foreign Debts Scheme", which allowed British companies with debts due by enemy nations to obtain compensatory government financing. He retained the seat of Oldham until he stood down at the 1922 General Election. He was Treasurer of the Air League of the British Empire, and a member of the Carlton
Carlton Club
The Carlton Club is a gentlemen's club in London which describes itself as the "oldest, most elite, and most important of all Conservative clubs." Membership of the club is by nomination and election only.-History:...
, Conservative, 1900, Cecil, Unionist and Yorick Clubs.
Freemasonry Career
Denniss rose to the post of Grand Deacon of England. He was a Vice-President of the Royal Masonic Institution for BoysRoyal Masonic School for Boys
The Royal Masonic School for Boys was an independent school for boys in England.From 1798 charities were set up for clothing and educating sons of needy Freemasons. They originally provided education by sending them to schools near to their homes...
, a Life Governor of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls
Royal Masonic School
The Royal Masonic School for Girls is an independent school in Rickmansworth, England with both day and boarding pupils. The school was instituted in 1788, with the aim of maintaining the daughters of indigent Freemasons, unable through death, illness, or incapacitation to support their families...
, and the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution
Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution
The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution is one of the four Masonic Charities in England and Wales. The RMBI operates 17 care homes providing residential care, nursing care and dementia care...
and Vice-President of the Fund of Benevolence of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons.
His career began with his initiation in the Thames Valley Lodge, no.1460, Hampton Court in 1888, where he was installed Master in 1893. He was a Founder, Past Master and Honourary Member of the Willesden Lodge, no.2489(1893); Founder and First Master, subsequently installed a 2nd time, of Herga Lodge, no. 2548, Harrow; Founder and Past Master of the Jubilee Masters Lodge, no.2712,(1898); Founder and First Master and an Honorary Member of the Yorick Lodge, no.2771 (1899); Founder of the Middlesex Masters Lodge, no.3420, Twickenham (1909); Past Master of the Burlington Lodge, no.96, and a Joining Member of the Northern Bar Lodge, no.1610, the Christ's Hospital Lodge, no.2650, the Empire Lodge, no. 2108; and the Abercorn Lodge, no.1549, Stanmore. He was a Consecrating Officer and Honorary Member of the Wembley Lodge, no.2914, Wembley(1902) and the King Alfred Lodge, no.2945, Edmonton (1903). He was an Honorary Member of the Unity Lodge, no.1637, Harrow. In 1896 he was invested as Provincial Grand Warden of Middlesex, and in 1902 was appointed Past Grand Deacon of England.
As a Royal Arch Mason
Royal Arch Masonry
Royal Arch Masonry is the term used to denote the first part of the York Rite system of Masonic degrees. Royal Arch Masons meet as a Chapter, and the Chapter confers four degrees: Mark Master Mason, Past Master, Most Excellent Master, and Royal Arch Mason.-Chapter level:A Chapter is in many ways...
he was exalted in the Royal Middlesex Chapter, no.1194, Hampton Court in 1893 in which he was twice installed as First Principal. He was a Founder and Past First Principal of the Willesden Chapter, no.2489(1895) and a Founder of the Inns of Court Chapter, no.1610(1905). He was a Past Provincial Third Grand Principal of Middlesex, and in 1902 was appointed Past Grand Standard Bearer
Masonic Lodge Officers
This article relates to mainstream Craft Freemasonry, sometimes known as Blue Lodge Freemasonry. Every Masonic Lodge elects or appoints Masonic Lodge Officers to execute the necessary functions of the lodge's life and work...
of England, being promoted to the rank of Past Assistant Grand Sojourner
Holy Royal Arch
The Holy Royal Arch is a degree of Freemasonry. It is present in all main masonic systems, though in some it is part of 'mainstream' Freemasonry, and in others it is an 'additional' degree....
in 1912.
In the Degree of Mark Master Mason he was advanced in the Royal Savoy Lodge, no.355, in which he was installed Master. In 1907 he was invested as Grand Steward of England.
In the Ancient and Accepted Rite
Scottish Rite
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry , commonly known as simply the Scottish Rite, is one of several Rites of the worldwide fraternity known as Freemasonry...
(Scottish Rite) he was perfected in the Rose and Lily Rose Croix Chapter, no.97, in which he was installed as Sovereign. In 1909 he was admitted to the Chapter, no.97, in which he was installed as Sovereign. In 1909 he was admitted to the 30th Degree.
In the Allied Masonic Degrees
Allied Masonic Degrees
The Allied Masonic Degrees are a series of Masonic degrees conferred by Councils of the Allied Masonic Degrees. They are side degrees that can be conferred only by invitation...
he was a member of the Stewart Council, no 16, London.
Marriage and Family
Denniss married Margaret Ellen Barlow(b.1859) on 22 August 1877 at St Paul's Church, Kersal, Manchester. She was the da. of George Barlow, JP, Mayor of Oldham. Denniss resided c.1890 at Langton Lodge, Hendon, latterly at Belmont, Uxbridge, Middx., where he died on 20th March 1931. His 1919 photographic portrait by BassanoAlexander Bassano
Alexander Bassano was the leading high society portrait photographer in Victorian London.He was the second youngest child of Clemente Bassano, originally a fishmonger of Cranbourne Street, later an oilman and Italian warehouseman of Jermyn Street, London. He opened his first studio in 1850 in...
is in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery, London (NPG x83602). He had 8 children, 3 daughters and 5 sons, 3 of whom were killed in action:
3 Sons Killed in Action
- George Barlow Bartley-Denniss(1878-1900) was born in Hendon, Middlesex in November 1878 and educated at Harrow SchoolHarrow SchoolHarrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
, where he was a mathematics scholar. He attended the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich and received his commission on 23 March 1898. During the Boer WarSecond Boer WarThe Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
On 16 September 1899, he sailed for South Africa aboard the Gaul, and the following week as 2nd Lt. joined the 23rd Field Co. Royal EngineersRoyal EngineersThe Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
with whom he served during the Siege of LadysmithSiege of LadysmithThe Siege of Ladysmith was a protracted engagement in the Second Boer War, taking place between 30 October 1899 and 28 February 1900 at Ladysmith, Natal.-Background:...
which commenced on 2nd November 1899. In the early hours of the morning of 6 January 1900, he was with a party of 33 sappers and NCOs of the Royal Engineers, under the command of Lt. Robert Digby-Jones, who were working on gun emplacements on Wagon Hill. They had installed a Navy 12 pounder, and were working on the mountings for a 4.7" gun, which was to have been brought up later in the day. In the pre-dawn darkness, Boer Commandos climbed the southern slopes and attacked both Wagon Hill and Caesar's Camp. During the morning the Imperial Light Horse made several charges in an attempt to clear the Boers from Wagon Hill, but the attempts were unsuccessful and costly. In the early afternoon a party of about 15-20 Boers charged the 4.7" gun emplacement. Lt. Digby-Jones and Trooper Herbert Albrecht of the ILH led a counter charge, killing the leading Boer soldiers and halting the enemy advance. As he rallied his men, Lt. Digby-Jones was mortally shot in the throat. George Denniss went to his assistance and was himself shot in the head and killed. Both Digby-Jones and Albrecht were awarded posthumous Victoria Crosses.
- Henry Barlow Bartley-Denniss(1885-1913), Lt. Royal Navy, was granted a naval pension on 16/12/1912 for injuries. and died on 18/1/1913 at Belmont, Uxbridge, Middx.
- Thomas Vivian Bartley-Denniss(1891-1918), educated at Harrow and Sandhurst. As Major, Royal Sussex Regt., he was promoted in France to acting Lt. Col. Royal Berkshire Regt., and died of wounds on 28/8/1918 at the Military Hospital, Denmark Hill, London. His photograph was printed in The SphereThe Sphere (newspaper)The Sphere was a British newspaper, published weekly from 27 January 1900 until the closure of the paper on 27 June 1964; the first issue came out at the height of the Boer War and was no doubt a product of that conflict and the public appetite for images...
newspaper 28/9/1918.
Surviving Son
Edmund's only surviving son was Lt. Col. Cyril Edmund Bartley-Denniss, DSO,(1883-1955) of the Royal ArtilleryRoyal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
, a tank specialist, of Eversley, Hants and Barnstaple, Devon. He was author of Index to Penfold's MS Sussex Pedigrees (1930). Cyril's eldest son, born at Barnstaple, Devon, was Col. George Arthur Bartley-Denniss(1916-1976), Royal Artillery, who was taken prisoner of war in WWII, and was approved by the King in 1946 to be "Mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished services while Prisoner of War".
Sources
- Representative British Freemasons, published c. 1913-18, author unknown, biog. pp.150-152.
- www.demornay.co.uk (Denniss family genealogy)
- Brown, Sharon Oddie, Descendants of George Bartley, 2003. (thesilverbowl.com)
- Historical List of MPs
- Debrett's House of Commons & the Judicial Bench, 1922
External links
- http://www.demornay.co.uk/gedcom/indiI00191.html (Denniss family tree)