Edward Buxton (conservationist)

Edward North Buxton (1 September 1840 – 9 January 1924) was a British conservationist and Liberal Party politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1886. He was also an alpine climber, with significant first or second ascents in the 1860s, including the Aiguille de Bionnassay,[1] Piz Palu and the first traverse of Lyskamm.[2]

Buxton was the third son of Sir Edward North Buxton, 2nd Baronet (1812–1858), and his wife, Catherine Gurney. Both father and son were called "Edward North Buxton" and both became Members of Parliament. Buxton was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge.[3] He was a partner in the London brewing firm of Truman, Hanbury, & Co. and a J.P. and a Deputy Lieutenant for Essex.[4]

Buxton stood for parliament unsuccessfully at South Essex in 1880. In 1885, he was elected MP for the Walthamstow constituency as a Liberal: he made six contributions during his year as an MP.[5] Buxton was an advocate of the provision of open, accessible land, particularly near cities. He and his brother Thomas played a major part in saving Epping Forest and Hainault Forests for public use. He was a verderer of Hatfield Forest, which he purchased for the National Trust from his deathbed.[6] He was a founding member of the Society for the Preservation of the Wild Fauna of the Empire,[7] now Fauna and Flora International.[8]

In 1862, Buxton married Emily Digby, the daughter of the Rev. the Hon. Kenelm Henry Digby, Rector of Tittleshall and Hon. Canon of Norwich, and sister of Sir Kenelm Digby.

Buxton died at the age of 83. His home, Leytonstone House, carries a blue plaque.[9] He is also commemorated by an inscription in the council chamber of Essex County Council.

Bibliography

• The ABC of Free Trade. An address (1882); rev. ed., 1903
• Epping Forest (1884); 8th ed. rev., 1911
• Short Stalks: or, Hunting camps north, south, east, and west (1892)
• Two African trips with notes and suggestions on big game preservation in Africa (1902)

References

1. F. Craufurd, Grove (September 1866). "The Ascent of the Aiguille de Bionnassay". The Alpine Journal. 2 (1865–1866): 321–332. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
2. "Lyskamm". www.summitpost.org. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
3. "Buxton, Edward North (BKSN857EN)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
4. Debretts Guide to the House of Commons 1886
5. Hansard Millbank Systems - Edward Buxton
6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 September 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
7. Prendergast, David K.; Adams, William M. (April 2003). "Colonial wildlife conservation and the origins of the Society for the Preservation of the Wild Fauna of the Empire (1903–1914)". Oryx. 37 (2): 251–260. doi:10.1017/S0030605303000425. ISSN 1365-3008.
8. http://www.fauna-flora.org/wp-content/.../setting-up-of-FFI_1904.pdf%5B%5D
9. "Waltham Forest Heritage Plaques. NB - as the house became a school in 1868 the plaque may refer to his father". Archived from the original on 25 October 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2009.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Edward North Buxton
• Works by or about Edward Buxton at Internet Archive

Government offices
Preceded by Charles Reed	Chairman of the London School Board 1881–1885	Succeeded by Rev. Joseph Diggle
Parliament of the United Kingdom
New constituency See South Essex	Member of Parliament for Walthamstow 1885 – 1886	Succeeded by William Makins