Bertram Straus
Bertram Stuart Straus (17 March 1867 – 26 August 1933) was a British businessman and Liberal Party politician.[1][2]
![](../I/m/Bertram_Straus.jpg)
![](../I/m/Bertram_Stuart_Straus.jpg)
Background
Born in Manchester, he was the son of Henry S Straus of Sedgley Park, a merchant and vice consul for the Netherlands.[1][2][3] Following education at Harrow School he was articled to Hale & Sons, colonial brokers in the City of London.[4] The company specialised in the importation of ostrich feathers, ivory, rubber, mother of pearl, drugs, gums, spices, cocoa, mica, isinglass, fibres and carpets.[5] He subsequently became a partner in the business, from which he retired in 1898.[1][6] He was later chairman of Virol Limited, manufacturers of "Virol", a malt extract based vitamin preparation.[1][7]
Politics
Straus entered politics as a member of Marylebone Vestry, and was later elected as a Progressive Party Councillor to represent Mile End on the London County Council in 1898, and was re-elected in 1901 and 1904.[4][8][9][10]
At the 1895 general election Straus was chosen as the Liberal candidate to contest the constituency of Marylebone West, but failed to be elected.[1] At the next general election in 1900 he stood at Tower Hamlets, St George, narrowly failing to be elected.[4]
![](../I/m/StGeorgesintheEast1885.png)
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Thomas Dewar | 1,437 | 55.7 | +5.6 | |
Liberal | Bertram Straus | 1,141 | 44.3 | -5.6 | |
Majority | 296 | 11.4 | +11.2 | ||
Turnout | 3,518 | 73.3 | -9.4 | ||
Conservative hold | Swing | +5.6 |
When the 1905 Mile End by-election was held at Mile End in 1905, Straus came close to winning the seat, losing to the Liberal Unionist candidate Harry Levy-Leveson by 78 votes.[1]
![](../I/m/MileEnd1885.png)
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Unionist | Harry Levy-Lawson | 2,138 | 50.9 | -14.7 | |
Liberal | Bertram Straus | 2,060 | 49.1 | +14.7 | |
Majority | 78 | 1.8 | -29.4 | ||
Turnout | 5,380 | 78.0 | +15.1 | ||
Liberal Unionist hold | Swing | -14.7 |
When a general election was held in the following year, Straus again faced Levy-Lawson at Mile End and managed to unseat him to become member of parliament.[1]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Bertram Straus | 2,295 | 51.4 | +2.3 | |
Liberal Unionist | Harry Levy-Lawson | 2,169 | 48.6 | -2.3 | |
Majority | 126 | 2.8 | 4.6 | ||
Turnout | 5,419 | 82.4 | +4.4 | ||
Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist | Swing | +2.3 | |||
Straus was only to hold the seat for a single term, with Levy-Leveson regaining it at the next election in January 1910 by 57 votes.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Unionist | Harry Levy-Lawson | 2,332 | 50.6 | +2.0 | |
Liberal | Bertram Straus | 2,275 | 49.4 | -2.0 | |
Majority | 57 | 1.2 | 4.0 | ||
Turnout | 84.3 | +1.9 | |||
Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal | Swing | +2.0 | |||
When a further election was held in December 1910, Straus and Levy-Lawson again faced each other, with Levy-Lawson holding the seat by only 6 votes.[1]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Unionist | Harry Levy-Lawson | 2,176 | 50.1 | -0.5 | |
Liberal | Bertram Straus | 2,170 | 49.9 | +0.5 | |
Majority | 6 | 0.2 | -1.0 | ||
Turnout | 79.5 | -4.8 | |||
Liberal Unionist hold | Swing | -0.5 |
He did not stand for parliament again.
Straus never married and died at his home at Hyde Park Mansions in August 1933, aged 66.[2] He was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium.[3]
References
- "STRAUS, Bertram Stuart". Who Was Who. Oxford University Press. December 2007. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
- "Obituary: Mr. B. S. Straus". The Times. 29 August 1933. p. 13.
- "Deaths". The Times. 29 August 1933. p. 1.
- "Biographies of New Members". The Times. 25 January 1906. p. 15.
- "Hale and Son". Whitakers Red Book. 1914. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
- "No. 26976". The London Gazette. 10 June 1898. p. 8589.
- "Virol, Limited". Straits Times. 29 September 1925. p. 2. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
- The London County Council Elections, The Times, 4 March 1898, p.10
- London County Council Election, The Times, 4 March 1901, p.7
- London County Council Election, The Times, 7 March 1904, p.12
- Craig, F.W.S. (1974). British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 (1 ed.). London: Macmillan.
External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Mr Bertram Straus
Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Harry Levy-Lewson |
Member of Parliament for Mile End 1906 – Jan 1910 |
Succeeded by Harry Levy-Lewson |