Richard James Meller
Encyclopedia
Sir Richard James Meller (1872 - 23 June 1940) was a British
barrister
and Conservative
politician.
He was born in London, the son of Richard Meller. He was called to the bar at the Middle Temple
in 1904, and became an expert in insurance law. In 1912 he was appointed by the government to the post of official lecturer on National Health Insurance. He later became secretary of the Prudential Approved Societies.
He entered politics in 1919 when he was elected to Surrey County Council
, later becoming a county alderman
, vice-chairman in 1939-1940 and was elected chairman of the council two months before his death.
In 1920 he was chosen as Coalition Conservative candidate for a parliamentary by-election at Dartford. He came in a poor third place when a swing against the government saw John Mills of the Labour Party
take the seat. Two years later he was again a candidate at a by-election, this time at Camberwell North. The Coalition Government in power since 1916 was beginning to unravel, and the election was a straight fight between Meller for the Conservatives and Charles Ammon
of the Labour Party, neither of whom claimed to support the coalition. Ammon was comfortably elected as public opinion turned against the coalition following the swingeing cuts of the Geddes Report
.
At the ensuing 1923 general election
Meller was elected as Conservative member of parliament
for his home constituency of Mitcham
. He held the seat at all subsequent elections until his death. He was knighted in 1933. In 1937 he was named as charter mayor
for the new Municipal Borough of Beddington and Wallington
, which formed part of the Mitcham constituency.
Richard Meller married Jeanie Sibley in 1897, and they had three sons. He died at a nursing home in Sutton
in June 1940, aged 67.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
barrister
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...
and Conservative
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...
politician.
He was born in London, the son of Richard Meller. He was called to the bar 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...
in 1904, and became an expert in insurance law. In 1912 he was appointed by the government to the post of official lecturer on National Health Insurance. He later became secretary of the Prudential Approved Societies.
He entered politics in 1919 when he was elected to Surrey County Council
Surrey County Council
Surrey County Council is the county council that governs the non-metropolitan county of Surrey in England. The council is composed of 80 elected councillors.The council is controlled by the Conservative party.The leader of the council is David Hodge....
, later becoming a county alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
, vice-chairman in 1939-1940 and was elected chairman of the council two months before his death.
In 1920 he was chosen as Coalition Conservative candidate for a parliamentary by-election at Dartford. He came in a poor third place when a swing against the government saw John Mills of the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
take the seat. Two years later he was again a candidate at a by-election, this time at Camberwell North. The Coalition Government in power since 1916 was beginning to unravel, and the election was a straight fight between Meller for the Conservatives and Charles Ammon
Charles Ammon, 1st Baron Ammon
Charles George Ammon, 1st Baron Ammon PC DL JP was a British Labour Party politician.-Background and education:The son of Charles George and Mary Ammon, he was educated at Public Elementary schools.-Career:...
of the Labour Party, neither of whom claimed to support the coalition. Ammon was comfortably elected as public opinion turned against the coalition following the swingeing cuts of the Geddes Report
Geddes Axe
The Geddes Axe was the drive for public economy and retrenchment in UK government expenditure recommended in the 1920s by a Committee on National Expenditure chaired by Sir Eric Geddes and with Lord Inchcape, Lord Faringdon, Lord Maclay and Sir Guy Granet also members.-Background:During and after...
.
At the ensuing 1923 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1923
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
Meller was elected as Conservative 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 his home constituency of Mitcham
Mitcham (UK Parliament constituency)
Mitcham was a parliamentary constituency centred on the Mitcham suburb 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....
. He held the seat at all subsequent elections until his death. He was knighted in 1933. In 1937 he was named as charter mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
for the new Municipal Borough of Beddington and Wallington
Municipal Borough of Beddington and Wallington
Beddington and Wallington was, from 1915 to 1965, a local government district in north east Surrey, England. It formed part of the London suburbs, lying within the Metropolitan Police District and the London Passenger Transport Area...
, which formed part of the Mitcham constituency.
Richard Meller married Jeanie Sibley in 1897, and they had three sons. He died at a nursing home in Sutton
Sutton, London
Sutton is a large suburban town in southwest London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Sutton. It is located south-southwest of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. The town was connected to central London by...
in June 1940, aged 67.