Arthur Harold Marshall

Sir Arthur Harold Marshall, KBE (2 August 1870 – 18 January 1956) was an English Liberal Party politician. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Wakefield 1910–1918 and for Huddersfield 1922–1923.

Background

Arthur Harold Marshall was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, a son of Methodist Minister Rev. H.T. Marshall DD and Mary Keats of Hanley. He was educated privately and at Yorkshire College (University of Leeds).[1] He travelled extensively in South Africa, Canada, U.S.A. and Europe.[2] In 1896 he married Louie Hepworth, the third daughter of Joseph Hepworth JP of Leeds, Torquay and Harrogate. In 1918 he became a Knight of the British Empire. In 1948 his wife died.[3]

Profession

In 1904 Marshall qualified as a barrister, being called to the Bar by Gray's Inn. He practiced on the North-Eastern Circuit. He was a director of the Legal Insurance Company and of J Hepworth & Son (Limited).[4] He was director of Bradford & District Newspaper Company Limited.[5]

Political

Marshall was elected to Harrogate Town Council, serving for six years.[6] In December 1910 he was elected to parliament as Liberal MP for Wakefield. He gained his seat from the Conservatives. He was the first Liberal to win the division since 1880. From 1910-1918 he served as a Liberal Whip.[7] He was Chairman and Honorary Secretary of the Yorkshire Liberal Federation. He was Chairman of the Central Billeting Board. He was a member of the National War Savings Committee and of the National War Aims Committee.[8][9]

In December 1918 he lost his seat to the Unionist he had defeated eight years earlier. There were two significant differences from 1910, firstly a Labour candidate intervened and secondly the endorsement from the wartime Coalition Government went to his Unionist opponent. In 1920 when a Conservative vacancy occurred in Ashton-under-Lyne, the town of his birth, he became the Liberal candidate for the by-election. Although no Liberal had stood in 1918 the party held the seat after the January 1910 elections. However, in a close contest between Unionist and Labour, he trailed in third place. At the next general election in 1922 he sought a return to parliament at Huddersfield. The division had returned a Coalition Government backed Liberal in 1918 against an official Liberal. Marshall had the support of Huddersfield Liberal Association and the defending member sought re-election as a National Liberal with the support of David Lloyd George and the local Conservatives. A Labour candidate made it a three-way contest. Marshall narrowly gained the seat for the Liberal Party. In parliament he again served as a Liberal Whip.[10] A year later there was another general election. This time the Liberals were united and Marshall sought re-election against Labour and Unionist challengers. Marshall managed to increase his vote but his Labour opponent managed to do the same and beat Marshall by just 26 votes. In 1924 another general election was called and Marshall was again Liberal candidate for Huddersfield. In another close three-party contest, he was edged into third place by the Unionist. He did not stand for parliament again.[11]

Electoral record

General election December 1910: Wakefield[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Arthur Harold Marshall 2,837 51.7 n/a
Conservative Edward Brotherton 2,651 48.3 -6.2
Majority 186 3.4 n/a
Turnout 5,488
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing n/a
General election 1918: Wakefield[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist Edward Brotherton 9,128 52.3
Labour Albert Bellamy 5,882 33.7
Liberal Arthur Harold Marshall 2,448 14.0
Majority 3,246 18.6
Turnout 72.1
Unionist gain from Liberal Swing
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
1920 Ashton-under-Lyne by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
C Unionist Walter de Frece 8,864 43.3 −15.0
Labour William Cornforth Robinson 8,127 39.6 n/a
Liberal Arthur Harold Marshall 3,511 17.1 n/a
Majority 738 3.7 −12.9
Turnout 20,502 82.3 +13.9
Unionist hold Swing n/a
C indicates candidate endorsed by the coalition government.
General election 1922: Huddersfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Arthur Harold Marshall 15,879 34.0 +5.3
Labour James Hudson 15,673 33.5 +1.0
National Liberal Charles Sykes 15,212 32.5 −6.3
Majority 206 0.5 11.6
Turnout 46,764 83.1 +13.3
Registered electors 56,243
Liberal gain from National Liberal Swing +5.8
General election 1923: Huddersfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James Hudson 17,430 36.7 +3.2
Liberal Arthur Harold Marshall 17,404 36.6 +2.6
Unionist Charles Tinker 12,694 26.7 +26.7
Majority 26 0.1 0.6
Turnout 47,528 81.9 −1.2
Registered electors 58,029
Labour gain from Liberal Swing +0.3
General election 1924: Huddersfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour James Hudson 19,010 36.3 −0.4
Unionist Enoch Hill 16,745 32.0 +5.3
Liberal Arthur Harold Marshall 16,626 31.7 −4.9
Majority 2,265 4.3 4.2
Turnout 52,381 88.5 +6.6
Registered electors 59,176
Labour hold Swing −2.8

References

  1. ↑ The Liberal Year Book for 1929
  2. ↑ Dods Parliamentary Companion For 1918
  3. ↑ (2007, December 01). Marshall, Sir Arthur (Harold), (2 Aug. 1870–18 Jan. 1956), Barrister-at-law, Gray’s Inn (North-Eastern Circuit); MP (L) Wakefield, 1910–18, Huddersfield, 1922–23; was a Liberal Whip. WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. Retrieved 28 Jan. 2021, from https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540891.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-240396.
  4. ↑ Debrett's House of Commons 1916
  5. ↑ The Liberal Year Book for 1929
  6. ↑ The Liberal Year Book for 1916
  7. ↑ The Liberal Year Book for 1929
  8. ↑ Dods Parliamentary Companion For 1918
  9. ↑ (2007, December 01). Marshall, Sir Arthur (Harold), (2 Aug. 1870–18 Jan. 1956), Barrister-at-law, Gray’s Inn (North-Eastern Circuit); MP (L) Wakefield, 1910–18, Huddersfield, 1922–23; was a Liberal Whip. WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. Retrieved 28 Jan. 2021, from https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540891.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-240396.
  10. ↑ The Liberal Year Book for 1929
  11. ↑ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949 by FWS Craig
  12. ↑ British parliamentary election results, 1885–1918 (Craig)
  13. ↑ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918–1949, FWS Craig
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