William Robert Bousfield
Encyclopedia
William Robert Bousfield (12 January 1854 – 16 July 1943) was a British
lawyer, Conservative
politician and scientist.
He was the son of Edward Tenney Bousfield, an engineer, from Bedford
. He attended Bedford Modern School
before serving an apprenticeship as an engineer. In 1872 he was admitted to Caius College, Cambridge, winning a scholarship there in 1873. Following graduation and a brief period as a lecturer at the University of Bristol
, he decided to study law. In 1880 he was called to the bar
at the Inner Temple
. His knowledge of engineering led to him becoming a renowned expert on patent
law. He became a Queen's Counsel
in 1891 (which office became King's Counsel on the accession of a King in 1901). He was elected a bencher
of the Inner Temple in 1897, and treasurer in 1920.
Politically, Bousfield was a Conservative, and stood unsuccessfully twice for election as member of parliament
for Mid Lanarkshire
in the 1880s. He entered the Commons at a by-election at Hackney North
in May 1892. He held the seat at the 1895
and 1900
elections, before being unseated by Thomas Hart-Davies
, when the Liberals
swept to power at the 1906 general election
. He did not stand for election again.
Bousfield was an enthusiastic amateur scientist, particularly interested in physical chemistry
and electrolysis. He worked in collaboration with T M Lowry, and their work was published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society
, of which Bousfield was made a fellow in 1916. When his health began to fail in the 1920s, he was no longer able to carry out laboratory experiments, and turned his attention to psychology
. He wrote three books on the subject: A Neglected Complex (1924), The Mind and its Mechanism (1927) and The Basis of Memory (1928).
In 1879 he married Florence Kelly of Shanklin
, Isle of Wight
. W R Bousfield died in Ottery St Mary
in July 1943, aged 89.
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...
lawyer, 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 and scientist.
He was the son of Edward Tenney Bousfield, an engineer, from Bedford
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
. He attended Bedford Modern School
Bedford Modern School
Bedford Modern School is a British co-educational independent school in the Harpur area of Bedford, in the county of Bedfordshire, in England.Bedford Modern comprises a junior school and a senior school...
before serving an apprenticeship as an engineer. In 1872 he was admitted to Caius College, Cambridge, winning a scholarship there in 1873. Following graduation and a brief period as a lecturer at the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
, he decided to study law. In 1880 he was called to the bar
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...
at the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
. His knowledge of engineering led to him becoming a renowned expert on patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
law. He became a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1891 (which office became King's Counsel on the accession of a King in 1901). He was elected a bencher
Bencher
A bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher can be elected while still a barrister , in recognition of the contribution that the barrister has made to the life of the Inn or to the law...
of the Inner Temple in 1897, and treasurer in 1920.
Politically, Bousfield was a Conservative, and stood unsuccessfully twice for election 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 Lanarkshire
Mid Lanarkshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Mid Lanarkshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 to 1918. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post voting system.- Boundaries :...
in the 1880s. He entered the Commons at a by-election at Hackney North
Hackney North (UK Parliament constituency)
Hackney North was a parliamentary constituency in the "The Metropolis" . It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.- History :...
in May 1892. He held the seat at the 1895
United Kingdom general election, 1895
The United Kingdom general election of 1895 was held from 13 July - 7 August 1895. It was won by the Conservatives led by Lord Salisbury who formed an alliance with the Liberal Unionist Party and had a large majority over the Liberals, led by Lord Rosebery...
and 1900
United Kingdom general election, 1900
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1900*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
elections, before being unseated by Thomas Hart-Davies
Thomas Hart-Davies
Thomas Hart-Davies was a British colonial administrator and Liberal politician.He was the son of the Venerable Thomas Hart-Davies, vicar of Christchurch, Ramsgate, Kent and former Archdeacon of Melbourne, Australia...
, when the Liberals
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...
swept to power at the 1906 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1906
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1906*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
. He did not stand for election again.
Bousfield was an enthusiastic amateur scientist, particularly interested in physical chemistry
Physical chemistry
Physical chemistry is the study of macroscopic, atomic, subatomic, and particulate phenomena in chemical systems in terms of physical laws and concepts...
and electrolysis. He worked in collaboration with T M Lowry, and their work was published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
, of which Bousfield was made a fellow in 1916. When his health began to fail in the 1920s, he was no longer able to carry out laboratory experiments, and turned his attention to psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
. He wrote three books on the subject: A Neglected Complex (1924), The Mind and its Mechanism (1927) and The Basis of Memory (1928).
In 1879 he married Florence Kelly of Shanklin
Shanklin
Shanklin is a popular seaside resort and civil parish on the Isle of Wight, England, located on the east coast's Sandown Bay. The sandy beach, its Old Village and a wooded ravine, Shanklin Chine, are its main attractions. The esplanade along the beach is occupied by hotels and restaurants for the...
, Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
. W R Bousfield died in Ottery St Mary
Ottery St Mary
Ottery St Mary, known as "Ottery" , is a town in the East Devon district of Devon, England, on the River Otter, about ten miles east of Exeter on the B3174. It is part of a large civil parish of the same name, which also covers the villages of West Hill, Metcombe, Fairmile, Alfington, Tipton St...
in July 1943, aged 89.