Edward Pickersgill

Edward Hare Pickersgill (1850 – 13 October 1911) was an English Liberal Party politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1911.[1]

Edward Pickersgill
"Bethnal Green". Caricature by Spy published in Vanity Fair in 1888.

Biography

Pickersgill was the son of Thomas Pickersgill, an architect of York. He was educated at York Grammar School before entering employment at the age of 18 as a clerk in Savings Bank Department of the Post Office, remaining there until 1885.[1] He graduated with a B.A. from London University in 1872 and was called to the bar at the Inner Temple in 1884, and practiced as a Treasury counsel at the Old Bailey.[1][2]

At the 1885 general election Pickersgill was elected Member of Parliament for Bethnal Green South West. He was regarded as being on the Radical wing of the Liberal Party, and campaigned for reform of criminal law, in particular seeking to end imprisonment for non-payment of debt. He also sought the abolition of the death penalty and the ending of flogging as a punishment.[1] From 1892 to 1895 he was a Progressive Party member of the London County Council representing Hackney Central.[3] At the "khaki" general election of 1900 he lost his seat to a Unionist opponent, but regained it six years later when there was a swing to the Liberals.[1] He held the seat at the two general elections of 1910, but resigned from the Commons by taking the Manor of Northstead in July 1911 in order to take up a post as a stipendary magistrate.[1][4]

In October 1911 he contracted pneumonia and died at his sister's house in Putney, aged 61.[1]

gollark: But anyway, while I don't always think he's lying, most TJ09 messages are quite vague about stuff.
gollark: It would take much longer to, say, actually write the code.
gollark: The amount of time is probably not significant.
gollark: I mean, important fixed appear to have been delayed until a release...
gollark: It's probably more linked to the ratios.

References
  1. "Obituary: Mr. E. H. Pickersgill". The Times. 14 October 1911. p. 9.
  2. Debretts House of Commons and the Judicial Bench 1886
  3. "The London County Council Election". The Times. 7 March 1892. p. 10.
  4. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 3)
Parliament of the United Kingdom
New constituency Member of Parliament for Bethnal Green South West
1885–1900		 Succeeded by
Samuel Forde Ridley
Preceded by
Samuel Forde Ridley		 Member of Parliament for Bethnal Green South West
1906–1911		 Succeeded by
Charles Masterman


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