Albert Illingworth, 1st Baron Illingworth

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Albert Holden Illingworth, 1st Baron Illingworth, PC (25 May 1865 – 23 January 1942), was a British businessman and Liberal politician. He served as Postmaster General between 1916 and 1921 in David Lloyd George's coalition government.

The Lord Illingworth
Postmaster General
In office
10 December 1916 – 1 April 1921
MonarchGeorge V
Prime MinisterDavid Lloyd George
Preceded byJack Pease
Succeeded byF. G. Kellaway
Personal details
Born25 May 1865 (1865-05-25)
Bradford, Yorkshire, England
Died23 January 1942 (1942-01-24) (aged 76)
Markington, Yorkshire, England
Political partyLiberal
Spouses
Annie Crothers
(m. 1895; div. 1926)
Margaret Wilberforce (1900-1986)
(m. 1931)
RelationsPercy Illingworth (brother)

Background and education

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Illingworth was the second son of Henry Illingworth, of Bradford, the member of an old Yorkshire family, and his wife Mary, daughter of Sir Isaac Holden, 1st Baronet. Percy Illingworth was his younger brother. His sister, Mary Gertrude Darnton (née Illingworth, 1871-1952), married in 1894 John Edward Darnton (formerly Schunck), brother of Baroness Airedale née Florence Schunck.[1] Illingworth was educated at the London International College and became a partner in the family firm of Daniel Illingworth and Sons, spinners, and Chairman of Isaac Holden et Fils.[2]

Political career

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In a 1915 by-election Illingworth was returned to Parliament for Heywood, a seat he held until the constituency was abolished in 1918,[2][3] and then sat for Heywood and Radcliffe until 1921.[2][3] He served under David Lloyd George as Postmaster General from 1916 to 1921[2] and was sworn of the Privy Council in 1916.[4] In 1921 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Illingworth, of Denton in the West Riding of the County of York.[5][2] The territorial designation derived from Denton Hall which he had purchased in 1920. However, the estate was sold already in 1925. Following his elevation to the peerage the Heywood and Radcliffe constituency was won in the subsequent by-election by the Labour candidate Walter Halls, a farm labourer employed by Illingworth.[6]

Family

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Denton Hall, the estate purchased by Lord Illingworth in 1920.

Lord Illingworth married firstly Annie Elizabeth, daughter of Isaac Holden Crothers, in 1895. They had no children and were divorced in 1926. He married secondly Margaret Mary Clare, daughter of William Basil Wilberforce, in 1931. This marriage was also childless. Illingworth died in January 1942, aged 76, when the barony became extinct. His second wife died in 1986,[2] having become before her death the victim of a massive defrauding of her estate by her niece who had been investigated over the murder of Simon Dale, the latter's ex-husband.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage, and Companionage. Kelly's Directories. 1931. p. 513. Retrieved 16 May 2022. Baron Illingworth, of Denton, West Riding of Yorkshire 1921..Mary Gertrude, b. 1871: m . 1894, John Edward Schunck , J.P. ( who assumed under will by Royal License in 1913, the surname of Darnton in lieu of his patronymic...
  2. ^ a b c d e f thepeerage.com Albert Holden Illingworth, 1st and last Baron Illingworth
  3. ^ a b "leighrayment.com House of Commons: Hertford to Honiton". Archived from the original on 11 February 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ "No. 29865". The London Gazette. 15 December 1916. p. 12225.
  5. ^ "No. 32352". The London Gazette. 10 June 1921. p. 4634.
  6. ^ "Farm Laborer Wins Seat Held By Peer Who Employs Him. W. Halls Elected to Commons by 305 Votes to Succeed Illingworth, Raised to Lords. Overturn For Coalition. Lloyd George Group Suffers Its Second Defeat at Polls in a Week. Opposition Still Divided. Its Lack of Cohesion Lessens the Significance of Attacks on Premier. Opposition Lacking in Unity. Farm Laborer Wins Seat Held By Peer. Farm Wage Cut Threatens". The New York Times. 10 June 1921. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  7. ^ Kirby, Terry (4 August 2007). "The strange case of Baroness de Stempel: How the death of an eccentric architect revealed a web of murder, fraud and intrigue". The Independent. Archived from the original on 15 September 2007.
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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Heywood
1915–1918
Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament for Heywood and Radcliffe
1918–1921
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Postmaster General
1916–1921
Succeeded by
Peerage of the United Kingdom
New creation Baron Illingworth
1921–1942
Extinct