Arthur Walters Wills (1868-17 November 1948), was a British Liberal Party politician.
Arthur Walters Wills | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for North Dorset | |
| In office January 1905 – January 1910 | |
| Preceded by | John Kenelm Digby Wingfield-Digby |
| Succeeded by | Randolf Littlehales Baker |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Arthur Walters Wills 1868 |
| Died | 17 November 1948 |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse | Margery Eyre-Walker |
Background edit
He was a son of George Wills of Moretonhampstead, Devon. He was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge. He married in 1908, Margery Eyre-Walker of Byfleet, Surrey. They had two sons and two daughters.[1]
Legal career edit
He took honours in law in 1890. As a Barrister-at-law, he was called to Bar in 1894 and joined the Western Circuit.[1]
Political career edit
He sat as Liberal MP for Dorset North from January 1905 to January 1910. He was elected at the first time of asking at the North Dorset by-election in January 1905 when he gained the seat from the Conservatives.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Arthur Wills | 4,239 | 56.0 | +9.9 | |
| Conservative | Randolph Baker | 3,330 | 44.0 | -9.9 | |
| Majority | 12.0 | 19.8 | |||
| Turnout | 90.8 | ||||
| Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | +9.9 | |||
He held the seat a year later at the 1906 General Election.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal | Arthur Wills | 4,153 | 54.2 | -1.8 | |
| Conservative | Randolf Baker | 3,508 | 45.8 | +1.8 | |
| Majority | 8.4 | -3.6 | |||
| Turnout | 90.2 | -0.6 | |||
| Liberal hold | Swing | -1.8 | |||
He lost his seat back to the Conservatives at the January 1910 General Election. He failed to re-gain his seat at the general election 11 months later;
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Randolf Baker | 3,919 | 50.2 | ||
| Liberal | Arthur Wills | 3,887 | 49.8 | ||
| Turnout | 7,806 | 91.6 | |||
| Majority | 32 | 0.4 | |||
| Conservative hold | Swing | ||||
He did not stand for parliament again.[3]
Sources edit
- Who Was Who
- British parliamentary election results 1885–1918, Craig, F. W. S.
References edit
External links edit
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Arthur Wills
- Who Was Who; http://www.ukwhoswho.com