Frederick Doulton
Encyclopedia
Frederick Doulton was a British Liberal Party
politician. He was Member of Parliament
for Lambeth
from 5 May 1862 until 1868.
(1793–1873), the founder of Royal Doulton
ceramic
s, and Jane Duneau. He is the brother of Sir Henry Doulton
who took the leading role in the family business and establishing it as a significant concern. Frederick married Sarah Merideth in 1846. Frederick worked in the family business and as an appointed member of the Metropolitan Board of Works
, the then principal instrument of London-wide government, raising some suspicion of his own interests. He died of apoplexy
at Summerhill House, Tunbridge Wells on 21 May 1872.
where he had adopted a platform critical of lavish campaigns and corrupt and unfair voting. Surprisingly, in 1857
, he stood aside to nominate and support the candidature of William Roupell
, a vain and shallow candidate who indulged in exorbitant campaigning and entertaining of electors. Doulton was alleged to have written Roupell's speeches though he denied as much. Doulton was further implicated with Roupell in allegations of excessive spending though these were later dropped when the accusers were in turn accused of applying duress to Roupell for political favours. Roupell was duly elected.
At the United Kingdom general election, 1859
, two members were to be returned and William Williams, who had held the second seat since 1850, announced in The Times
that he would not stand because of ill health. Doulton announced his candidacy but a rumour started to circulate that he had bribed Williams to stand down. Williams now decided to stand to preserve his reputation and Roupell, somewhat disloyally, backed him. Doulton now withdrew but seems to have made light of the matter.
In 1862, Roupell was consumed by the scandal that gave rise to the Roupell case
and resigned as MP on 4 February. Doulton was later returned as MP in the by-election
on 5 May. His Parliamentary career also ended with scandal six years later. The Times
obituary ends with: This refers to the Affaire Doulton described in The Times on 4 January 1869. Frederick Doulton was accused of fraud in Brussels
, but escaped the charges on appeal since overcharing was not a crime. His reputation was though damaged.
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician. He was 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,...
for Lambeth
Lambeth (UK Parliament constituency)
Lambeth was a parliamentary constituency centred on the Lambeth district of South London. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the bloc vote system.-History:...
from 5 May 1862 until 1868.
Biography
Frederick was the third of eight children of John DoultonJohn Doulton
John Doulton was an English businessman and manufacturer of pottery, a founder of the firm that later became known as Royal Doulton. John Doulton married Jane Duneau, a widow from Bridgnorth in Shropshire, who died April 9, 1841...
(1793–1873), the founder of Royal Doulton
Royal Doulton
The Royal Doulton Company is an English company producing tableware and collectables, dating to 1815. Operating originally in London, its reputation grew in The Potteries, where it was a latecomer compared to Spode, Wedgwood and Minton...
ceramic
Ceramic
A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...
s, and Jane Duneau. He is the brother of Sir Henry Doulton
Henry Doulton
Sir Henry Doulton was an English businessman, inventor and manufacturer of pottery, instrumental in developing the firm of Royal Doulton....
who took the leading role in the family business and establishing it as a significant concern. Frederick married Sarah Merideth in 1846. Frederick worked in the family business and as an appointed member of the Metropolitan Board of Works
Metropolitan Board of Works
The Metropolitan Board of Works was the principal instrument of London-wide government from 1855 until the establishment of the London County Council in 1889. Its principal responsibility was to provide infrastructure to cope with London's rapid growth, which it successfully accomplished. The MBW...
, the then principal instrument of London-wide government, raising some suspicion of his own interests. He died of apoplexy
Apoplexy
Apoplexy is a medical term, which can be used to describe 'bleeding' in a stroke . Without further specification, it is rather outdated in use. Today it is used only for specific conditions, such as pituitary apoplexy and ovarian apoplexy. In common speech, it is used non-medically to mean a state...
at Summerhill House, Tunbridge Wells on 21 May 1872.
Parliamentary career
Frederick had first stood unsuccessfully for Lambeth in 1852United Kingdom general election, 1852
The July 1852 United Kingdom general election was a watershed election in the formation of the modern political parties of Britain. Following 1852, the Tory/Conservative party became, more completely, the party of the rural aristocracy, while the Whig/Liberal party became the party of the rising...
where he had adopted a platform critical of lavish campaigns and corrupt and unfair voting. Surprisingly, in 1857
United Kingdom general election, 1857
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...
, he stood aside to nominate and support the candidature of William Roupell
William Roupell
William Roupell was Liberal Party Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom for Lambeth from 1857 until his resignation on 4 February 1862...
, a vain and shallow candidate who indulged in exorbitant campaigning and entertaining of electors. Doulton was alleged to have written Roupell's speeches though he denied as much. Doulton was further implicated with Roupell in allegations of excessive spending though these were later dropped when the accusers were in turn accused of applying duress to Roupell for political favours. Roupell was duly elected.
At the United Kingdom general election, 1859
United Kingdom general election, 1859
In the 1859 United Kingdom general election, the Whigs, led by Lord Palmerston, held their majority in the House of Commons over the Earl of Derby's Conservatives...
, two members were to be returned and William Williams, who had held the second seat since 1850, announced in The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
that he would not stand because of ill health. Doulton announced his candidacy but a rumour started to circulate that he had bribed Williams to stand down. Williams now decided to stand to preserve his reputation and Roupell, somewhat disloyally, backed him. Doulton now withdrew but seems to have made light of the matter.
In 1862, Roupell was consumed by the scandal that gave rise to the Roupell case
Roupell case
The Roupell case was a notorious English legal dispute that centred around legal documents alleged to have been forged by William Roupell and excited great public interest.-Background:...
and resigned as MP on 4 February. Doulton was later returned as MP in the by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
on 5 May. His Parliamentary career also ended with scandal six years later. The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
obituary ends with: This refers to the Affaire Doulton described in The Times on 4 January 1869. Frederick Doulton was accused of fraud in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, but escaped the charges on appeal since overcharing was not a crime. His reputation was though damaged.