John Edward Sears
Encyclopedia
John Edward Sears was a British
architect and politician.
He was the son of the Reverend James Sears, a Baptist minister in Camberwell
in south London
, and quickly became involved in the activities of the church as a teacher and librarian. He was also the leader of the local Band of Hope temperance organisation and was associated with Baptist churches in the Peckham
area. Sears was educated privately before being articled
to C G Searle and S C Searle, architects in 1872. At the same time he studied architecture at University College London
and the Royal Academy
Schools. He became a qualified architect in 1880 and a and was made a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects
in 1889. For several years he acted as editor of the annual Architect’s Compendium and Catalogue. He subsequently moved to Hendon
in Middlesex
, a northern suburb of London. He was a member of the Hendon School Board and a deacon of Hendon Baptist Church.
In 1901 Sears was elected to the London County Council
as a member of the majority Progressive Party
representing Hackney North
. The Progressives were allied to the parliamentary Liberal Party
. He became the chairman of the council's Bridges and Housing Committees. He was re-elected in 1904.
At the 1906 general election
Sears was chosen by the Liberals to contest the constituency of Cheltenham. The seat had been held by the Conservative Party
since the 1880s, but Sears unexpectedly unseated James Agg-Gardner
, the sitting member of parliament
. He served a single term in the Commons, and the Conservatives regained the Cheltenham seat at the next election in January 1910.
He married Selina Marianne Read and they had one son. He died at his home in Teddington
in January 1941 aged 83.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
architect and politician.
He was the son of the Reverend James Sears, a Baptist minister in Camberwell
Camberwell
Camberwell is a district of south London, England, and forms part of the London Borough of Southwark. It is a built-up inner city district located southeast of Charing Cross. To the west it has a boundary with the London Borough of Lambeth.-Toponymy:...
in south London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and quickly became involved in the activities of the church as a teacher and librarian. He was also the leader of the local Band of Hope temperance organisation and was associated with Baptist churches in the Peckham
Peckham
Peckham is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Southwark. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
area. Sears was educated privately before being articled
Articled clerk
An articled clerk, also known as an articling student, is an apprentice in a professional firm in Commonwealth countries. Generally the term arises in the accountancy profession and in the legal profession. The articled clerk signs a contract, known as "articles of clerkship", committing to a...
to C G Searle and S C Searle, architects in 1872. At the same time he studied architecture at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
and the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
Schools. He became a qualified architect in 1880 and a and was made a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
in 1889. For several years he acted as editor of the annual Architect’s Compendium and Catalogue. He subsequently moved to Hendon
Hendon
Hendon is a London suburb situated northwest of Charing Cross.-History:Hendon was historically a civil parish in the county of Middlesex. The manor is described in Domesday , but the name, 'Hendun' meaning 'at the highest hill', is earlier...
in Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, a northern suburb of London. He was a member of the Hendon School Board and a deacon of Hendon Baptist Church.
In 1901 Sears was elected to the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
as a member of the majority Progressive Party
Progressive Party (London)
The Progressive Party was a political party based around the Liberal Party that contested municipal elections in the County of London.It was founded in 1888 by a group of Liberals and leaders of the labour movement. It was also supported by the Fabian Society, and Sidney Webb was one of its...
representing Hackney North
Hackney North (UK Parliament constituency)
Hackney North was a parliamentary constituency in the "The Metropolis" . It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.- History :...
. The Progressives were allied to the parliamentary Liberal Party
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...
. He became the chairman of the council's Bridges and Housing Committees. He was re-elected in 1904.
At the 1906 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1906
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1906*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
Sears was chosen by the Liberals to contest the constituency of Cheltenham. The seat had been held by the 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...
since the 1880s, but Sears unexpectedly unseated James Agg-Gardner
James Agg-Gardner
Sir James Tynte Agg-Gardner JP was an English brewery-owner and Conservative Party politician from Cheltenham in Gloucestershire...
, the sitting 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,...
. He served a single term in the Commons, and the Conservatives regained the Cheltenham seat at the next election in January 1910.
He married Selina Marianne Read and they had one son. He died at his home in Teddington
Teddington
Teddington is a suburban area in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in south west London, on the north bank of the River Thames, between Hampton Wick and Twickenham. It stretches inland from the River Thames to Bushy Park...
in January 1941 aged 83.