Sir James Duke | |
|---|---|
%2c_Bt.jpg) Sir James Duke (1792–1873), 1st Baronet | |
| Lord Mayor of London | |
| In office 1848–1849 | |
| Preceded by | John Wilks |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Farncomb |
| Parliamentary group | Liberal Party |
| Constituency | Boston |
| Member of Parliament for City of London | |
| In office 1849–1865 | |
| Preceded by | James Pattison |
| Succeeded by | William Lawrence |
| Member of Parliament for Boston | |
| In office 1837–1849 | |
Sir James Duke, 1st Baronet (31 January 1792 – 28 May 1873)[2] was a BritishLiberal Party politician. He wasLord Mayor of London in 1848–1849, and sat in theHouse of Commons from 1837 to 1865.
Born inMontrose,[3] he was elected at the1837 general election as amember of parliament (MP) for theborough of Boston[4] inLincolnshire, and was re-elected at the1841[5]and1847 general elections.[6][7]
He was elected asSheriff of the City of London in 1837 andknighted on 5 April of that year.[8] Sir James wasLord Mayor of London in 1847. In June of that year a vacancy arose in theCity of London constituency when the Liberal MPJames Pattison died at age 62.[9] A group of leading Liberals from the City met on 16 July and resolved to nominate Duke for the vacancy if he would consent, agreeing that:
"impressed with the opinion that the personal character and commercial experience of the Rt. Hon. Sir James Duke, combined with his business habits, and his long acquaintance with public affairs as a member of the House of Commons, eminently qualify him for the representation of the various interests of this city in Parliament"[10]
A deputation was sent to theMansion House, where Duke was asked to stand, which he immediately agreed to do.[10]
Heresigned his Boston seat[7] by taking theChiltern Hundreds,[11] and at the by-election on 27 July 1849 he was elected as an MP for theCity of London constituency,[12] winning more than twice as many votes as his sole opponent, theConservative Party candidateLord John Manners.[13]
He was made abaronet in October 1849,[14] on 30 November he was appointed as a commissioner for enquiring intoSmithfield Market.[15]He held the City of London seat until he stood down from the Commons at the1865 general election.[9][13]
He was appointedHigh Sheriff of Sussex for 1872.[16]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forBoston 1837–1849 With:John Studholme Brownrigg 1835–47 Benjamin Bond Cabbell 1847–57 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forCity of London 1849–1865 With:Baron Lionel de Rothschild 1847–68 Lord John Russell 1841–61 John Masterman 1841–57 Robert Wigram Crawford 1857–74 Western Wood 1861–63 George Goschen 1863–80 | Succeeded by |
| Civic offices | ||
| Preceded by | Lord Mayor of London 1848–1849 | Succeeded by |
| Baronetage of the United Kingdom | ||
| New creation | Baronet (of London) 1849–73 | Succeeded by James Duke |