Sir John Ellis, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir John Whittaker Ellis, 1st Baronet (25 January 1829 – 20 September 1912) was a Conservative Party
politician in the United Kingdom
.
Born on 25 January 1829, Sir John Whittaker Ellis was the 5th son of Joseph Ellis, owner of the Star and Garter Hotel
in Richmond, Surrey, from 1830–1847 and lived in Byfleet
for some years at Petersham House (built in High Road c1859 and now a Lloyds Bank). After a fire at Petersham House, Sir John organised Byfleet’s first fire brigade by equipping three of his gardeners with three lengths of hose and an ancient manual pump which was put on wheels and kept in a potting shed. In 1885, Sir John funded the construction of the nearby Byfleet Fire Station to house a volunteer Fire Brigade. Initially the Parish Council managed this Brigade and rented the building and a fire engine from Sir John. The fire brigade was stationed there until 1963, latterly as part of the Surrey Fire Brigade and the building survives today as a Grade 2 Listed building.
Sir John was Lord Mayor of London from 1881-2, and was elected as Member of Parliament
for Mid Surrey
at a by-election
in 1884, and when that constituency was abolished for the 1885 general election
, he was returned for the new Kingston
constituency.
On 6 June 1882 Sir John was made a Baronet of Byfleet
, Surrey
, but the title became extinct on his death. He later became the Borough of Richmond’s first Mayor, and purchased the site for the Richmond’s first town hall. In 1895 a bust of Sir John was unveiled in the town hall by Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck and this is still displayed on the staircase there. In 1899 he was appointed High Sheriff of Surrey
for the year.
Sir John died on 20 September 1912 and is buried in St.Peter’s churchyard, Petersham, sharing the same gravestone with his late wife, Mary Anne, who had died in 1901. He is also commemorated by a plaque in St Peter’s North Chancel, the bust in Richmond Town Hall and nearby Whittaker Avenue in Richmond.
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 in the United Kingdom
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...
.
Born on 25 January 1829, Sir John Whittaker Ellis was the 5th son of Joseph Ellis, owner of the Star and Garter Hotel
Star and Garter Hotel, Richmond
The Star and Garter Hotel in Richmond was a hotel located in the London countryside on Richmond Hill overlooking the Thames Valley, on the site now occupied by the Star and Garter Home. The first establishment on the site, an inn built in 1738, was relatively small...
in Richmond, Surrey, from 1830–1847 and lived in Byfleet
Byfleet
Byfleet is an inland island village forming a suburb of Woking in Surrey, England. It is in the east of the borough between the River Wey and the River Mole, and is within the M25 motorway....
for some years at Petersham House (built in High Road c1859 and now a Lloyds Bank). After a fire at Petersham House, Sir John organised Byfleet’s first fire brigade by equipping three of his gardeners with three lengths of hose and an ancient manual pump which was put on wheels and kept in a potting shed. In 1885, Sir John funded the construction of the nearby Byfleet Fire Station to house a volunteer Fire Brigade. Initially the Parish Council managed this Brigade and rented the building and a fire engine from Sir John. The fire brigade was stationed there until 1963, latterly as part of the Surrey Fire Brigade and the building survives today as a Grade 2 Listed building.
Sir John was Lord Mayor of London from 1881-2, and was elected as 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 Mid Surrey
Mid Surrey (UK Parliament constituency)
Mid Surrey was a county constituency in Surrey, England. 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:...
at a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
in 1884, and when that constituency was abolished for 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 was returned for the new Kingston
Kingston-upon-Thames (UK Parliament constituency)
Kingston-upon-Thames was a parliamentary constituency in the South-West London suburb of Kingston upon Thames which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.-History:...
constituency.
On 6 June 1882 Sir John was made a Baronet of Byfleet
Byfleet
Byfleet is an inland island village forming a suburb of Woking in Surrey, England. It is in the east of the borough between the River Wey and the River Mole, and is within the M25 motorway....
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, but the title became extinct on his death. He later became the Borough of Richmond’s first Mayor, and purchased the site for the Richmond’s first town hall. In 1895 a bust of Sir John was unveiled in the town hall by Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck and this is still displayed on the staircase there. In 1899 he was appointed High Sheriff of Surrey
High Sheriff of Surrey
-List of High Sheriffs of Surrey:The list of known High Sheriffs of Surrey extends back to 1066 At various times the High Sheriff of Surrey was also High Sheriff of Sussex -1066-1228:...
for the year.
Sir John died on 20 September 1912 and is buried in St.Peter’s churchyard, Petersham, sharing the same gravestone with his late wife, Mary Anne, who had died in 1901. He is also commemorated by a plaque in St Peter’s North Chancel, the bust in Richmond Town Hall and nearby Whittaker Avenue in Richmond.