Ralph Humphrey Etherton (11 February 1904 – 10 December 1987) was a British

barrister A barrister is a type of lawyer in common law jurisdiction (area), jurisdictions. Barristers mostly specialise in courtroom advocacy and litigation. Their tasks include arguing cases in courts and tribunals, drafting legal pleadings, jurisprud ...

and

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

politician. He was the son of Captain Louis Etherton.''Marriages'', The Times, 16 December 1944 He was educated at

Charterhouse School Charterhouse is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school (English independent boarding school for pupils aged 13–18) in Godalming, Surrey, England. Founded by Thomas Sutton in 1611 on the site of the old Carthusian monastery in Charter ...

and

Trinity Hall, Cambridge Trinity Hall (formally The College or Hall of the Holy Trinity in the University of Cambridge, colloquially "Tit Hall" ) is a Colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1350, it is th ...

, and was called to the Bar in 1926.''Obituary of Mr Ralph Etherton'', The Times, 9 January 1988 He became involved in Conservative politics, failing to win a parliamentary seat at Everton, Liverpool in

1935 Events January * January 7 – Italian premier Benito Mussolini and French Foreign Minister Pierre Laval conclude an agreement, in which each power agrees not to oppose the other's colonial claims. * January 12 – Amelia Earhart ...

. In 1937, he unsuccessfully stood for election to the

London County Council The London County Council (LCC) was the principal local government body for the County of London throughout its existence from 1889 to 1965, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today ...

as a

Municipal Reform Party The Municipal Reform Party was a local party allied to the parliamentary Conservative Party in the County of London. The party contested elections to both the London County Council and metropolitan borough councils of the county from 1906 to 194 ...

candidate. Two tears later, the

1939 Stretford by-election The 1939 Stretford by-election was held on 8 December 1939. The by-election was held due to the death of the incumbent Conservative MP, Anthony Crossley Anthony Crommelin Crossley (13 August 1903 – 15 August 1939) was a British writer, ...

was caused by the death of

Anthony Crossley Anthony Crommelin Crossley (13 August 1903 – 15 August 1939) was a British writer, publisher and Conservative Party (UK), Conservative politician. Early life Crossley was born on 13 August 1903, the only son of Crossley baronets, Sir Kennet ...

, Member of Parliament for

Stretford Stretford is a market town in Trafford, Greater Manchester, England, sited on flat ground between the River Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal; the Bridgewater Canal bisects the town. The town is located south of Manchester, south of Salfo ...

. Etherton won the contest and was elected to the seat. Etherton joined the

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...

, rising from the rank of Pilot Officer to Flight Lieutenant. On 15 December 1944, he married Johanne Cloherty in

St Mary Undercroft The Chapel of St Mary Undercroft is a Church of England chapel located in the Palace of Westminster, London, England. The chapel is accessed via a flight of stairs in the south east corner of Westminster Hall. It had been a crypt below St Steph ...

, the crypt chapel of the

Palace of Westminster The Palace of Westminster is the meeting place of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is located in London, England. It is commonly called the Houses of Parliament after the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two legislative ch ...

. He met his future wife while she was

Charles de Gaulle Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle (22 November 18909 November 1970) was a French general and statesman who led the Free France, Free French Forces against Nazi Germany in World War II and chaired the Provisional Government of the French Re ...

's diplomatic driver. He lost his parliamentary seat at the 1945 general election. He retired from active politics and pursued a career in business. He died in December 1987, aged 83.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Etherton, Ralph 1904 births 1987 deaths People educated at Charterhouse School Alumni of Trinity Hall, Cambridge Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies Royal Air Force personnel of World War II Royal Air Force officers UK MPs 1935–1945 Municipal Reform Party politicians