William Lehman Ashmead Bartlett Burdett-Coutts
Encyclopedia
William Lehman Ashmead Bartlett Burdett-Coutts (1851 – 28 July 1921), born William Lehman Ashmead-Bartlett, was an American
-born British
Conservative
politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1921.
Ashmead-Bartlett was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey
, United States
, the son of Ellis Bartlett of Plymouth, Massachusetts, U.S.A. and his wife Sophia Ashmead, daughter of John King Ashmead of Philadelphia. All his grandparents were British subject
s and he was the younger brother of Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett
. After his father's death in 1852 the family moved to England
, and he was educated at Torquay
and at Cholmeley School Highgate
. He entered Keble College, Oxford
in 1870. He owned the Columbia Market, and in connection with this, he built up a large fishing fleet in the North Sea, and a
considerable trade in vegetables.
Ashmead-Bartlett was secretary to the philanthropist
Baroness Burdett-Coutts
. In 1877, he was Special Commissioner to Turkey to administer the Turkish Compassionate Fund, which had been initiated by the Baroness Burdett-Coutts, and received the Collar and Star of the Medjidieh from the Sultan. In 1879-80, he visited Ireland to assist in organising relief in the distressed districts and largely developed Baroness Burdett's scheme for benefiting the Irish fisheries. He married the baroness, who was 37 years older than he was, on 12 February 1881 and took her surname. In 1883, he was on Executive Committee of the International Fisheries Exhibition. He was chairman of the Highgate Committee for enlarging Hampstead Heath
.
William Burdett-Coutts was first elected to Parliament in the 1885 general election
for the London
constituency of Westminster
, which had become a one-seat constituency from a two-seat one. He remained the seat's MP until it was abolished in the 1918 general election
, when he was elected for the new Westminster Abbey constituency. He was appointed to the Privy Council in the 1921 New Year's Honours List.
The Baroness died in 1906 and there were no children of the marriage.
Burdett-Coutts died aged 70, in St Pancras, London
, while in office, and a by-election
was held to replace him.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-born British
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...
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 who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1921.
Ashmead-Bartlett was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the son of Ellis Bartlett of Plymouth, Massachusetts, U.S.A. and his wife Sophia Ashmead, daughter of John King Ashmead of Philadelphia. All his grandparents were British subject
British subject
In British nationality law, the term British subject has at different times had different meanings. The current definition of the term British subject is contained in the British Nationality Act 1981.- Prior to 1949 :...
s and he was the younger brother of Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett
Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett (politician)
Sir Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett was an American born British Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1880 to 1902.-Early life:...
. After his father's death in 1852 the family moved to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and he was educated at Torquay
Torquay
Torquay is a town in the unitary authority area of Torbay and ceremonial county of Devon, England. It lies south of Exeter along the A380 on the north of Torbay, north-east of Plymouth and adjoins the neighbouring town of Paignton on the west of the bay. Torquay’s population of 63,998 during the...
and at Cholmeley School Highgate
Highgate
Highgate is an area of North London on the north-eastern corner of Hampstead Heath.Highgate is one of the most expensive London suburbs in which to live. It has an active conservation body, the Highgate Society, to protect its character....
. He entered Keble College, Oxford
Keble College, Oxford
Keble College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its main buildings are on Parks Road, opposite the University Museum and the University Parks. The college is bordered to the north by Keble Road, to the south by Museum Road, and to the west by Blackhall...
in 1870. He owned the Columbia Market, and in connection with this, he built up a large fishing fleet in the North Sea, and a
considerable trade in vegetables.
Ashmead-Bartlett was secretary to the philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
Baroness Burdett-Coutts
Angela Burdett-Coutts, 1st Baroness Burdett-Coutts
Angela Georgina Burdett-Coutts, 1st Baroness Burdett-Coutts , born Angela Georgina Burdett, was a nineteenth-century philanthropist, the daughter of Sir Francis Burdett, 5th Baronet and the former Sophia Coutts, daughter of banker Thomas Coutts...
. In 1877, he was Special Commissioner to Turkey to administer the Turkish Compassionate Fund, which had been initiated by the Baroness Burdett-Coutts, and received the Collar and Star of the Medjidieh from the Sultan. In 1879-80, he visited Ireland to assist in organising relief in the distressed districts and largely developed Baroness Burdett's scheme for benefiting the Irish fisheries. He married the baroness, who was 37 years older than he was, on 12 February 1881 and took her surname. In 1883, he was on Executive Committee of the International Fisheries Exhibition. He was chairman of the Highgate Committee for enlarging Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath is a large, ancient London park, covering . This grassy public space sits astride a sandy ridge, one of the highest points in London, running from Hampstead to Highgate, which rests on a band of London clay...
.
William Burdett-Coutts was first elected to Parliament in 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:...
for the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
constituency of Westminster
Westminster (UK Parliament constituency)
Westminster was a parliamentary constituency in the Parliament of England to 1707, the Parliament of Great Britain 1707-1800 and the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801. It returned two members to 1885 and one thereafter....
, which had become a one-seat constituency from a two-seat one. He remained the seat's MP until it was abolished in the 1918 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1918
The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did...
, when he was elected for the new Westminster Abbey constituency. He was appointed to the Privy Council in the 1921 New Year's Honours List.
The Baroness died in 1906 and there were no children of the marriage.
Burdett-Coutts died aged 70, in St Pancras, London
St Pancras, London
St Pancras is an area of London. For many centuries the name has been used for various officially-designated areas, but now is used informally and rarely having been largely superseded by several other names for overlapping districts.-Ancient parish:...
, while in office, and a by-election
Westminster Abbey by-election, 1921
The Westminster Abbey by-election, 1921 was a parliamentary by-election held on 25 August 1921 for the British House of Commons constituency of Westminster Abbey in London. The seat had become vacant when the Conservative Member of Parliament William Burdett-Coutts had died on 28 July 1921...
was held to replace him.