Sir Alfred Billson (18 April 1839 – 9 July 1907) was a Liberal Party (UK), Liberal Party politician in the United Kingdom.
Born in Leicester, he was fifth son of William Billson.
He was admitted a solicitor in 1860, and moved to Liverpool, where he became partner in the law firm of Oliver Jones, Billson, and Company. He became a Justice of the Peace, J.P. for the city, and was active in local Liberal politics as secretary of South West Lancashire Liberal Association from 1866 to 1884, and of Liverpool's Liberal Association.
Billson was elected as Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for three different constituencies: from 1892 to 1895 for Barnstaple (UK Parliament constituency), Barnstaple in Devon, from a 1897 Barnstaple by-election, by-election in 1897 to the 1900 United Kingdom general election, 1900 General Election for Halifax (UK Parliament constituency), Halifax in West Yorkshire, and from the 'Liberal landslide' 1906 United Kingdom general election, 1906 General Election, until his death in 1907, for North West Staffordshire (UK Parliament constituency), North West Staffordshire, after defeating a Conservative Party (United Kingdom), Conservative Member. He had also unsuccessfully contested Conservative-held Bradford East (UK Parliament constituency), Bradford East in 1896,
being defeated by the Honourable Ronald Greville.
Billson married in 1862 Lilla, daughter of John Baines of Leicester, and had one son and three daughters.
Later in his life he began to live in Shropshire at Rowton Castle as tenant of its then landlord, Montagu Corry, 1st Baron Rowton, Baron Rowton, with whom he enjoyed friendship despite political differences, Rowton having been a close Conservative associate of Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield, Disraeli.
He was an active supporter of Liberal associations in the mainly Conservative-voting county, and served as member of the Atcham Rural District Council and Alberbury Parish Council.
In June 1907 he was knighted in King Edward VII of the United Kingdom, Edward VII's Birthday Honours List although he did not live to receive the accolade. He died suddenly, on 9 July 1907, in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons when he collapsed in the 'Aye' lobby to cast his vote on sugar duty legislation, aged 68.
After cremation at Golders Green Crematorium, his ashes were buried in Kensal Green Cemetery. A future Liberal MP, Congregationalist minister Charles Silvester Horne, Silvester Horne, officiated.
A plaque was placed in his memory in St Michael's Parish Church, Alberbury, near his Rowton Castle home.
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Billson, Alfred
1839 births
Liberal Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies
UK MPs 1892–1895
UK MPs 1895–1900
UK MPs 1906–1910
1907 deaths
Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Barnstaple