Thomas Robinson (Gloucester MP)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Robinson was an English corn merchant and Liberal
politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1880 and 1895.
Robinson was born at Weston. He became a corn merchant of Gloucester
and was an Alderman and mayor of the city four times. He was also a J.P.
In 1873 Robinson stood in a by-election Gloucester
after out manoeuvering former Liberal member John Joseph Powell
for the candidature, but was defeated. He was elected as Member of Parliament
(MP) for Gloucester in 1880 after the Liberals had established a party caucus chosen by ward meetings, resulting in improved organisation. However bribery and corruption were on a major scale in Gloucester and Robinson was unseated in the same year. His willingness to stand down and the unwillingness of the Conservatives to take matters further led to suspicions of collusion between the parties and a Royal Commission was set up to examine electoral practices. The Royal Commission concluded that Gloucester was among the most corrupt of the seven towns investigated and that bribery was endemic in all elections in the city. The Commission concluded that half of the electorate had taken bribes in 1880, and blamed local politicians for most of the corruption. Notwithstanding this, and the virtual halving of the electorate eligible to vote, Robinson was reelected for Gloucester in 1885 when representation had been reduced to one member under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885
.
Robinson lived at Longford Park, near Gloucester. He died at the age of 70.
Robinson married Harriet Godwin in 1852.
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 between 1880 and 1895.
Robinson was born at Weston. He became a corn merchant of Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
and was an Alderman and mayor of the city four times. He was also a J.P.
In 1873 Robinson stood in a by-election Gloucester
Gloucester (UK Parliament constituency)
Gloucester is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was established in 1295 to return two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons but in 1885 representation was reduced to one member under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885...
after out manoeuvering former Liberal member John Joseph Powell
John Joseph Powell
John Joseph Powell , was a British barrister, and Member of Parliament for Gloucester, 1862–1865.-Life:He was eldest son of Thomas Powell of Gloucester, and was born there 3 September 1816. He entered Middle Temple 28 May 1842, was called to the bar 16 April 1847, and went the Oxford circuit...
for the candidature, but was defeated. He 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,...
(MP) for Gloucester in 1880 after the Liberals had established a party caucus chosen by ward meetings, resulting in improved organisation. However bribery and corruption were on a major scale in Gloucester and Robinson was unseated in the same year. His willingness to stand down and the unwillingness of the Conservatives to take matters further led to suspicions of collusion between the parties and a Royal Commission was set up to examine electoral practices. The Royal Commission concluded that Gloucester was among the most corrupt of the seven towns investigated and that bribery was endemic in all elections in the city. The Commission concluded that half of the electorate had taken bribes in 1880, and blamed local politicians for most of the corruption. Notwithstanding this, and the virtual halving of the electorate eligible to vote, Robinson was reelected for Gloucester in 1885 when representation had been reduced to one member under 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...
.
Robinson lived at Longford Park, near Gloucester. He died at the age of 70.
Robinson married Harriet Godwin in 1852.