Alfred Paget Hedges (30 December 1867 – 17 April 1929), was a British
Liberal Party
The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world.
The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...
politician and cigarette manufacturer.
Background
He was the second son of William Hedges of
Ealing
Ealing () is a district in west London (sub-region), west London, England, west of Charing Cross in the London Borough of Ealing. It is the administrative centre of the borough and is identified as a major metropolitan centre in the London Pl ...
, the co-founder of
Benson & Hedges
Benson & Hedges is a British brand of cigarettes owned by American conglomerate Altria. Cigarettes under the ''Benson & Hedges'' name are manufactured worldwide by different companies such as Rothmans, Benson & Hedges, Philip Morris USA, British ...
Ltd. He was educated at
Milton, Kent. He married Florence Hicks of
Gerrans, Cornwall. They had three sons.
He was an ardent
Methodist
Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a Protestant Christianity, Christian Christian tradition, tradition whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's brother ...
.
Business career
He succeeded his father in his tobacco business in 1885 and immediately became the sole proprietor. He had business connections in London, New York and Montreal.
Political career
He was Liberal MP for the
Tunbridge Division of Kent from 1906 to 1910. He was elected at the first attempt, gaining the seat from the Conservatives at the 1906 General Election.
[British parliamentary election results 1885-1918, Craig, F. W. S.] On 18 February 1908, he instituted a debate on local taxation, and after extensive lobbying for the readjustment of taxes in the winter of 1908–9, he still voted against the government over rating reform in February 1909.
[Liberals, Radicals and Social Politics, 1892-1914 - Page 211] He was defeated by the Conservatives at the following general election in January 1910;
He served as a Justice of the Peace in Kent.
Sources
*Who Was Who
*British parliamentary election results 1885–1918, Craig, F. W. S.
References
External links
''Who Was Who''Hedges on local taxation hansard.milbanksystems.com. Accessed 1 December 2022.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hedges, Alfred Paget
1867 births
1929 deaths
Liberal Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies
UK MPs 1906–1910