Edmund Henry Gilpin (4 February 1876 – 24 July 1950), known as Harry Gilpin, was a British politician and company director.

Life

Gilpin's Quaker parents were Margaret (born Binns) and Edmund Octavius Gilpin. His family had several notable members. His elder sister, Eva Gilpin, was an educationalist who founded a novel school. He was given a Quaker education at

Ackworth School Ackworth School is a private day and boarding school located in the village of High Ackworth, near Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England. It is one of seven Quaker schools in England. The school (or more accurately its Head) is a member of t ...

where there was learning tracts and the art classes concentrated on the means of production. In 1891 he went to work in the warehouse of Joseph Baker. He was rapidly promoted in the company, becoming a director in 1913.''Rubber Journal, Vol. 119'' (1950), p. 173 He served with

Red Cross The organized International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a Humanitarianism, humanitarian movement with approximately 16million volunteering, volunteers, members, and staff worldwide. It was founded to protect human life and health, to ...

during the First World War, resigning from the Quakers because he supported the war.''The letters of Arnold Stephenson Rowntree to Mary Katherine Rowntree, 1910–1918'', p. 134 In 1920, Gilpin led the merger of the company to form Baker Perkins Ltd. He also became active in the

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 ...

, standing unsuccessfully for the party in

Finsbury Finsbury is a district of Central London, forming the southeastern part of the London Borough of Islington. It borders the City of London. The Manorialism, Manor of Finsbury is first recorded as ''Vinisbir'' (1231) and means "manor of a man c ...

at the 1922 general election. Although he never stood for Parliament again, he remained politically active, taking part in the Liberal Industrial Inquiry, and later serving on a committee of the

Board of Trade The Board of Trade is a British government body concerned with commerce and industry, currently within the Department for Business and Trade. Its full title is The Lords of the Committee of the Privy Council appointed for the consideration of ...

. From 1943 until 1946, Gilpin was the Chairman of the Liberal Party, a period which included the party's poor result at the 1945 general election. Gilpin was knighted in 1949, and died the following year.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gilpin, Harry 1876 births 1950 deaths Chairs of the Liberal Party (UK) English Quakers People from Ackworth, West Yorkshire Liberal Party (UK) parliamentary candidates