Robert Mason (Liberal politician)

Robert Mason (17 December 1857 – 1 August 1927) was a British Liberal Party politician.

Family

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Mason was born at Belford in Northumberland. In 1884, he married Rosa Elizabeth Thompson and they had two sons and three daughters. Their home was Marden House in Whitley Bay.[1]

Career

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Mason was a shipping agent and shipowner by profession.[2] He was also an Alderman of Northumberland County Council and a Justice of the Peace.[3]

Politics

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Mason was selected to fight the Wansbeck constituency at a by-election on 28 May 1918 as a supporter of the Coalition government of David Lloyd George. He was opposed by Ebenezer "Ebby Edwards" for the Labour Party and won the seat by a majority of 547 votes.[4] He stood again as a Coalition Liberal at the 1918 general election having presumably been awarded the Coalition coupon. In another straight fight against Labour he held the seat, this time with a majority of 3,399. By this time the electorate was greatly increased thanks to the Representation of the People Act of 1918.[5]

Mason retired from the House of Commons at the 1922 election, and did not stand again.

References

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  1. ^ Who Was Who, OUP 2009
  2. ^ The Times, 22 May 1918 p3
  3. ^ Who Was Who, OUP 2009
  4. ^ The Times, 30 May 1918 p3
  5. ^ The Times House of Commons 1919; Politico’s Publishing 2004 p59
  • Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
  • Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Wansbeck
19181922
Succeeded by