Joseph Firth Bottomley Firth
Encyclopedia
Joseph Firth Bottomley Firth (1842 - 3 September 1889) was an English barrister and Liberal
politician who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1880 to 1889.
and his wife Ann, eldest daughter of Joseph Firth. The Bottomleys were a prominent Quaker family in the West Riding of Yorkshire
, having been major landowners since the reign of Elizabeth I
. He attended Ackworth School
and the University of London
, where he received a degree in law. He was called to the bar
at the Middle Temple
, and practiced as a barrister on the North Eastern Circuit. In 1873, his uncle, Joseph Firth of Shepley died and as part of the conditions of his uncle's will, he adopted the additional surname of "Firth" by royal licence to become Joseph Firth Bottomley Firth.
on the London School Board
. In 1880
he entered the House of Commons as one of two Members of Parliament for Chelsea
and held the seat until 1885. Firth was president of the London Municipal Reform League
from 1882, and author of Municipal London; or London Government as it is and London Government as it ought to be. At the 1885 general election
he stood unsuccessfully at North Kensington and at the 1886 general election
at Newington West
. In February 1888 the sitting member for Dundee
resigned, and Firth was elected in his place.
In 1889 a democratically elected London County Council
was created, and Firth was elected as a member of the Progressive
majority group. He became the first deputy chairman of the council.
Firth died suddenly from "sun stroke" at the age of 47, while in Switzerland.
Firth married Elizabeth Tatham, daughter of a sometime mayor of Leeds
in 1873 .
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 who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1880 to 1889.
Early life
Firth was born as Bottomley in Dobroyd, Yorkshire, the son of Joseph Bottomley of HuddersfieldHuddersfield
Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
and his wife Ann, eldest daughter of Joseph Firth. The Bottomleys were a prominent Quaker family in the West Riding of Yorkshire
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
, having been major landowners since the reign of Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
. He attended Ackworth School
Ackworth School
Ackworth School is an independent school located in the village of High Ackworth, near Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England. It is one of eight Quaker Schools in England. The school is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and SHMIS . The Head is Kathryn Bell, who succeeded...
and the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, where he received a degree in law. He was called to the bar
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...
at the Middle Temple
Middle 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 practiced as a barrister on the North Eastern Circuit. In 1873, his uncle, Joseph Firth of Shepley died and as part of the conditions of his uncle's will, he adopted the additional surname of "Firth" by royal licence to become Joseph Firth Bottomley Firth.
Political career
Firth was an active campaigner for reform of local government in London, as well as being involved in the Liberal Party. From 1876 – 1879 he was a member for ChelseaChelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
on the London School Board
London School Board
The School Board for London was an institution of local government and the first directly elected body covering the whole of London....
. In 1880
United Kingdom general election, 1880
-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 entered the House of Commons as one of two Members of Parliament for Chelsea
Chelsea (UK Parliament constituency)
Chelsea was a borough constituency, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.The constituency was created by the Reform Act 1867 for the 1868 general election, when it returned two Members of Parliament , elected by the bloc vote system of election.Under the...
and held the seat until 1885. Firth was president of the London Municipal Reform League
London Municipal Reform League
The London Municipal Reform League was a pressure group operating in the Metropolitan Board of Works, formed in 1881 by John Lloyd, having a Liberal Party outlook. Its president from 1882 was Joseph Firth Bottomley Firth.-See also:* London Municipal Society...
from 1882, and author of Municipal London; or London Government as it is and London Government as it ought to be. At the 1885 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1885
-Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:...
he stood unsuccessfully at North Kensington and at the 1886 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1886
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the UK general election, 1886*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
at Newington West
Newington West (UK Parliament constituency)
Newington West was a parliamentary constituency in the Newington area of South London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system.- History :...
. In February 1888 the sitting member for Dundee
Dundee (UK Parliament constituency)
Dundee was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 to 1950, when it was split into Dundee East and Dundee West....
resigned, and Firth was elected in his place.
In 1889 a democratically elected 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...
was created, and Firth was elected as a member of the Progressive
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...
majority group. He became the first deputy chairman of the council.
Firth died suddenly from "sun stroke" at the age of 47, while in Switzerland.
Firth married Elizabeth Tatham, daughter of a sometime mayor of Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
in 1873 .