Sir Edmund Lechmere, 3rd Baronet

Sir Edmund Lechmere
Bt
"St John of Jerusalem". Caricature by T published in Vanity Fair in 1883.
Member of Parliament
for Tewkesbury
In office
1866–1868
Preceded byJohn Reginald Yorke and William Edward Dowdeswell
Succeeded byWilliam Edwin Price
Member of Parliament
for West Worcestershire
In office
1876–1885
Preceded byFredrick Knight and William Edward Dowdeswell
Member of Parliament
for Bewdley
In office
1885–1892
Preceded byEnoch Baldwin
Succeeded byAlfred Baldwin
Member of Parliament
for Evesham
In office
1892–1895
Preceded bySir Richard Temple, Bt
Succeeded byCharles Wigram Long
The St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital first annual report 1883

Sir Edmund Anthony Harley Lechmere, 3rd Baronet (8 December 1826 – 18 December 1894) was a British Conservative Party politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1866 and 1895. He was a pioneer of the Red Cross.[1]

Family

Lechmere was the son of Sir Edmund Hungerford Lechmere, 2nd Baronet of Hanley Castle, Worcestershire and his wife Maria Clara Murray, daughter of Hon. David Murray, brother of Alexander Murray, 7th Lord Elibank.[2] He was educated at Charterhouse School and Christ Church, Oxford. In 1852 he inherited the baronetcy on the death of his father. He was a senior partner in the Worcester Old Bank. In 1862 he was High Sheriff of Worcestershire.[3]

Through his second son, Anthony Hungerford Lechmere (1868-1954), Edmund was the father-in-law of Cecily Mary Bridges (1884-1964) whose first husband, William George Lupton (1871-1911) of The Green Estate, Bromyard was, like Edmund, "a strong Conservative and took a keen interest in local (Worcester) politics" and hunting. Like his father, Anthony Hungerford Lechmere enjoyed (fox) hunting. Anthony and Cecily were the parents of Sir Reginald Anthony Hungerford Lechmere, 7th Baronet (1920-2010), a grandson of Sir Edmund Lechmere, 3rd Baronet.[3][4][5][6][7]

Lechmere married Louisa Katherine Haigh (1837–1904), only daughter and heiress of John or Joseph Haigh of Whitwell Hall at York, on 30 September 1858.[3] Lady Lechmere's father was the son of a wealthy textile merchant with origins in Golcar. He was born at Spring Grove, Huddersfield in 1805.[1] (See here [2] for Haigh's will.)

Politics and interests

In March 1866 Lechmere was elected at a by-election as one of the two Members of Parliament (MPs) for Tewkesbury,[8] but when the borough's representation was reduced to one seat at the 1868 general election, he was defeated by the Liberal Party candidate William Edwin Price.[8] He contested Tewkesbury again in 1874, without success,[8] but in July 1876 he was elected at a by-election as MP for Western Worcestershire.[9] After the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, he was elected at the 1885 general election as MP for Bewdley.[10] He held the seat until the 1892 general election,[11] when he was elected as MP for Evesham.[12] He held that seat until his death.[13]

Lechmere gave an annual prize for history at the Oxford Military College in Cowley from 1876 to 1896.

Lechmere and his wife were among the founders of Venerable Order of St John. They had travelled several times to Jerusalem and were involved in the establishment of The St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital.[14]

In 1905, London's Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News highlighted the exploits experienced and many trophies Sir Edmund and Lady Lechmere had won whilst game hunting.[15]

References

  1. ^ National Portrait Gallery
  2. ^ The Peerage of the British Empire as at Present Existing, 12th ed., Edmund Lodge, 1843, pg 210
  3. ^ a b c Debretts House of Commons and the Judicial Bench 1886
  4. ^ "HOUNDS". Evesham Standard & West Midland Observer Worcestershire, England. 17 March 1906. March 22 C. Ashbury Mortimer Saturday, March 24 Wischcot Tim Nolult liumroansziaz HOUNDS.—At 11.45. Monday, March 19 The Green. Bromyard Thursday, March 22 Saturday, March THE CROOME. Friday, at Pereliore ranee. There were strong winds blowing all day,...
  5. ^ "CROOME HUNT RACES". Worcester Daily Times and Journal Worcestershire, England. 10 April 1912. Retrieved 12 September 2024. ...James Faulkner, Colonel Hudson, Mr. A H. Lechmere, Mr. H B. Little, Messrs. F. W. Lane, ...
  6. ^ "Tragic Death of Mr. W. G. Lupton, of Bromyard. THE INQUEST: ACCIDENTAL DEATH". Tenbury Wells Advertiser Worcestershire, England. 5 September 1911. Retrieved 12 September 2024. The tragic death of Mr. W. G. Lupton, of The Green, Bromyard...death. Mr. Lupton married on May 24th, 1905, Miss Cecily Bridges, daughter of the late Rector of Bredenbury, who survives him. There is one child, a son, two years of age. Mr. Lupton was a strong Conservative, and took a keen interest in local politics...Tenbury Wells Advertiser Worcestershire, England 29 Aug 1911 BROMYARD BROMYARD. DEATH — On Friday morning, Mr. Lupton, of the Green Estate, Bromyard, was found dead in an orchard near his house. Shortly after six o'clock he interviewed his men, and gave instructions to the groom. At nine he was found dead, being shot [accidentally with his own gun]...
  7. ^ "Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News London, England". llustrated Sporting and Dramatic News London, England. 17 June 1905. Retrieved 12 September 2024. TROPHIES OF A GREAT HUNTER.--SIR EDMUND LECHMERE, BART - ...One night, at Medda, they had news of a lion, and Sir Edmund and Lady Lechmere sat up all night in a small, circular, thorn zareba, to try and shoot it. Lady Lechmere had the mild comfort of a sofa-chair, but her husband passed a miserable night...
  8. ^ a b c Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1977]. British parliamentary election results 1832–1885 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 303–304. ISBN 0-900178-26-4.
  9. ^ Craig, Election results 1832–1885, page 487
  10. ^ Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1974]. British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 419. ISBN 0-900178-27-2.
  11. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 3)
  12. ^ Craig, Election results 1885–1918, page 422
  13. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "E" (part 2)
  14. ^ "VADS The National Inventory of Continental European Paintings". Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 7 December 2008.
  15. ^ "Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News London, England". llustrated Sporting and Dramatic News London, England. 17 June 1905. Retrieved 12 September 2024. TROPHIES OF A GREAT HUNTER.--SIR EDMUND LECHMERE, BART - ...One night, at Medda, they had news of a lion, and Sir Edmund and Lady Lechmere sat up all night in a small, circular, thorn zareba, to try and shoot it. Lady Lechmere had the mild comfort of a sofa-chair, but her husband passed a miserable night...
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Tewkesbury
1866–1868
With: John Yorke 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for West Worcestershire
1876–1885
With: Fredrick Knight 		Constituency abolished
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Bewdley
1885–1892 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Evesham
1892–1894 		Succeeded by
Baronetage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Edmund Hungerford Lechmere
 Baronet
(of The Rhydd)
1856–1894 		Succeeded by
Edmund Arthur Lechmere