Thomas Myles Sandys
Encyclopedia
Colonel Thomas Myles Sandys (12 May 1837 – 18 October 1911) was a British
army
officer and Conservative Party
politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1911.
He was born in Blackheath
, and was the only son of Captain Thomas Sandys of the Royal Navy
. Following education at Shrewsbury School
, he was commissioned as an officer in the 73rd Bengal Native Infantry
, a military unit of the Honourable East India Company. After fighting in the Indian Rebellion of 1857
he exchanged into the 7th (or Royal Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot, part of the regular British Army. He was to serve in the 7th Foot for twenty years, retiring with the rank of captain.
He moved to the family's ancestral home, Graythwaite Hall
, near Ulverston
, Lancashire
. He continued his association with the armed forces as honorary colonel of the 3rd (Militia) Battalion of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
, a position he held until 1897. He was a staunch Protestant, becoming Grand Master of the Loyal Orange Lodge of England
and was a deputy lieutenant
for the County of Lancashire.
In 1852, he leased the mining rights of his land at Roanhead to Kennedy Brothers. The mines were the among the most productive in the area and worked until 1932.
The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
created the new constituency of Bootle
, and Sandys was elected as the first member of parliament
for the seat. He held the seat at subsequent elections, either being elected unopposed, or by a large majority. He resigned his seat
in March 1911. He died later that year, at his London home, 87 Jermyn Street, aged 74.
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...
army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer and 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...
politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1911.
He was born in Blackheath
Blackheath, London
Blackheath is a district of South London, England. It is named from the large open public grassland which separates it from Greenwich to the north and Lewisham to the west...
, and was the only son of Captain Thomas Sandys of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. Following education at Shrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School is a co-educational independent school for pupils aged 13 to 18, founded by Royal Charter in 1552. The present campus to which the school moved in 1882 is located on the banks of the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England...
, he was commissioned as an officer in the 73rd Bengal Native Infantry
Bengal Native Infantry
The Bengal Native Infantry was part of the organisation of the East India Company's Bengal Army before the Indian rebellion of 1857.The infantry regiments underwent frequent changes of numbering during their period of existence...
, a military unit of the Honourable East India Company. After fighting in the Indian Rebellion of 1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of the British East India Company's army on 10 May 1857, in the town of Meerut, and soon escalated into other mutinies and civilian rebellions largely in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, with the major hostilities confined to...
he exchanged into the 7th (or Royal Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot, part of the regular British Army. He was to serve in the 7th Foot for twenty years, retiring with the rank of captain.
He moved to the family's ancestral home, Graythwaite Hall
Graythwaite Hall
Graythwaite Hall, near Hawkshead, Cumbria in the Lake District of England is the home of the Sandys family. The grounds are open to the public, but the Hall is not....
, near Ulverston
Ulverston
Ulverston is a market town and civil parish in the South Lakeland district of Cumbria in north-west England. Historically part of Lancashire, the town is located in the Furness area, close to the Lake District, and just north of Morecambe Bay....
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
. He continued his association with the armed forces as honorary colonel of the 3rd (Militia) Battalion of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire)
The Loyal Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army from 1881 to 1970...
, a position he held until 1897. He was a staunch Protestant, becoming Grand Master of the Loyal Orange Lodge of England
Orange Institution
The Orange Institution is a Protestant fraternal organisation based mainly in Northern Ireland and Scotland, though it has lodges throughout the Commonwealth and United States. The Institution was founded in 1796 near the village of Loughgall in County Armagh, Ireland...
and was a deputy lieutenant
Lord Lieutenant
The title Lord Lieutenant is given to the British monarch's personal representatives in the United Kingdom, usually in a county or similar circumscription, with varying tasks throughout history. Usually a retired local notable, senior military officer, peer or business person is given the post...
for the County of Lancashire.
In 1852, he leased the mining rights of his land at Roanhead to Kennedy Brothers. The mines were the among the most productive in the area and worked until 1932.
The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
The Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was a piece of electoral reform legislation that redistributed the seats in the House of Commons, introducing the concept of equally populated constituencies, in an attempt to equalise representation across...
created the new constituency of Bootle
Bootle (UK Parliament constituency)
Bootle is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election. Since 1990 the MP has been Joe Benton of the Labour Party...
, and Sandys was elected as the first 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 the seat. He held the seat at subsequent elections, either being elected unopposed, or by a large majority. He resigned his seat
Resignation from the British House of Commons
Members of Parliament sitting in the House of Commons in the United Kingdom are technically forbidden to resign. To circumvent this prohibition, a legal fiction is used...
in March 1911. He died later that year, at his London home, 87 Jermyn Street, aged 74.