Levi Collison

Levi Collison (28 December 1875 – 22 October 1965) was an English art publisher and printer and Liberal Member of Parliament.

Private life

Levi Collison was born in Preston, Lancashire, and educated at private schools. He married and had two sons and two daughters.[1] In 1925, Collison was described as a country gentleman from St Annes on Sea. At that time he resided at Barton Grange, Barton near Preston and he lived there until 1943 when the house was requisitioned by the War Office as a mess for the Women's Auxiliary Air Force.[2]

Career

By profession, Collison was a printer and publisher of art books and founded his own company, Collison's Ltd, of which he was Chairman and managing director.[3] He also had other business interests. He was a trustee of Preston Savings Bank and a chairman of a number of companies.[4] Collison also served as a Justice of the Peace.[5]

Politics

Penrith and Cockermouth by-election

In 1921, Collison was selected as Liberal candidate for the by-election in Penrith and Cockermouth caused by the resignation of the sitting Coalition Conservative MP and Speaker of the House of Commons, James Lowther. In a tight contest, Collison just failed to gain the seat for the Independent Asquithian Liberals, losing by 31 votes.[6]

1922-1923

Collison fought the Penrith and Cockermouth seat again at the 1922 general election. In another straight fight and facing the same Tory candidate as he had at the by-election, Major-General Cecil Lowther, Collison gained the seat by a majority of 378. However, at the general election of 1923 he was unable to hold his seat, losing to the new Conservative candidate Arthur Dixey.[7]

Liberal National

He did not stand for Parliament again but retained his link with Liberal politics holding the office of Chairman[8] and President [9] of the Preston Liberal Association. However, in the crisis which overtook the Liberal Party after the formation of the National Government in 1931, Collison associated himself with the Liberal National group led by Sir John Simon. He was a founder member of the Liberal National Council in July 1932[10] and later held the office of President of Preston Liberal Nationals.[11]

Death

Collison died on 22 October 1965, aged 90.[12]

gollark: So am I. I just don't.
gollark: Yes, semicolons are not good in combat.
gollark: I'm sure there are *some*.
gollark: Unrelated: slowly, my reactor efficiency goes up... soon, it shall reach a slightly higher percentage.
gollark: It simulates injuries to individual bodyparts.

References
  1. Who was Who, OUP 2007
  2. http://www.content4reprint.com/recreation-and-leisure/travel/destinations/barton-grange-hotel-and-venue-preston-uk.htm
  3. The Times, 17 May 1909, p15
  4. Who was Who, OUP 2007
  5. http://www.lantern.lancashire.gov.uk/local_resources/2804/254950.html%5B%5D
  6. F W S Craig, British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949; Political Reference Publications, Glasgow, 1949 p316
  7. F W S Craig, p316
  8. The Times, 8 June 1929, p14
  9. The Times, 23 July 1929, p14
  10. The Times, 11 July 1932, p12
  11. The Times, 4 November 1936, p8
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 31 December 2010. Retrieved 8 February 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Cecil Lowther		 Member of Parliament for Penrith and Cockermouth
1922–1923		 Succeeded by
Arthur Dixey
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