Thomas William Dobson JP (9 November 1853 – 13 May 1935) was a

coal merchant A coal merchant is the term used in the UK and other countries for a trader who sells coal and often delivers it to households. Coal merchants were once a major class of local business, but have declined in importance in many parts of the developed ...

and

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * Generally, a supporter of the political philosophy liberalism. Liberals may be politically left or right but tend to be centrist. * An adherent of a Liberal Party (See also Liberal parties by country ...

Member of Parliament (MP) representing

Plymouth Plymouth ( ) is a port city status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Devon, South West England. It is located on Devon's south coast between the rivers River Plym, Plym and River Tamar, Tamar, about southwest of Exeter and ...

from 1906 to 1910.

Background

Dobson was born the son of Thomas and Maria Dobson of Hackney.(2007, December 01). Dobson, Thomas William, (9 Nov. 1853–13 May 1935), JP Borough of Croydon. WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. Ed. Retrieved 31 Mar. 2019, from http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540891.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-208647. He was educated at Congregational School, Hackney. In 1875 he married Caroline Jane Potterveld of Hackney. He settled in Park Hill Road, Croydon.

Professional career

Dobson was the senior partner in the firm of Godson & Dobson, coal and timber merchants of Croydon.

Political career

Dobson was a member of Croydon School Board from 1879 to 1885. He was a member of Croydon Council from 1885 to 1905. He served as a Justice of the peace in Croydon. He was Liberal candidate for the

division of

Devon Devon ( ; historically also known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel to the north, Somerset and Dorset to the east, the English Channel to the south, and Cornwall to the west ...

at the 1906 General Election. He introduced and carried in Parliament, Willett's Daylight Saving Bill. He did not seek re-election at Plymouth at the following general election in January 1910. He was chosen as Liberal candidate for the

1912 Nottingham East by-election The Nottingham East by-election was a UK Parliamentary by-elections, Parliamentary by-election held on 19 April 1912. It returned one Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, ...

. This was a Conservative seat, however he managed to reduce the Unionist majority at the by-election. He switched back contest the new seat of Plymouth Drake at the 1918 election. However, the Coalition government endorsement went to his Tory opponent and he came second. He then switched to contest Croydon South, his own local constituency, in 1922, not a promising seat and finished in third place. He did not stand for parliament again.

Electoral record

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Dobson, Thomas William 1853 births 1935 deaths UK MPs 1906–1910 Liberal Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Plymouth