Henry Devenish Harben
Henry Devenish Harben (1874 – 18 May 1967) was a British barrister and Liberal Party politician who later joined the Labour Party. He was a notable supporter of women's suffrage.
Early life
He was the son of
Prudential Assurance, Harben was educated at Eton College and Magdalen College, Oxford, before qualifying as a barrister. He married Agnes Helen Bostock. He stood unsuccessfully for the Conservative Party in Eye at the 1900 general election, but by 1902 had switched his affiliation to the Liberal Party.[1] He stood for the Liberal Party in Worcester at the 1906 general election. Although he lost the election, he petitioned the election court on the grounds that supporters of the winner, George Henry Williamson, had engaged in widespread bribery. He won the case, but the seat was left vacant until a by-election in 1908, and the local Liberal Party adopted a new candidate.[2] Harben next stood in Portsmouth at the December 1910 general election, but came bottom of the poll.[3]
Fabianism and women's suffrage
By 1910, Harben had joined the
The Men’s Political Union for Women’s Enfranchisement.[1]
Harben gave both financial and practical support to the
East London Federation of Suffragettes.[1] He also began funding labour movement publications, giving enough money to the Daily Herald that it was able to purchase its own printing press and remain open,[1] and being one of a small group who funded the setting up of the New Statesman.[6]
Harben and his wife, Agnes Harben, attended the
International Woman Suffrage Alliance conference in 1913. Agnes was active in the WSPU, but left the following year, while Harben left the Men's Political Union, Agnes becoming a founder member of the United Suffragists. Despite this, Harben visited Christabel Pankhurst in Paris to inform her that she could rely on his financial support on matters relating to women's suffrage.[1]
Later life
During the
Richard's university education.[1]
Harben's son, also Henry Harben, became a first-class cricketer.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Elizabeth Crawford, The Women's Suffrage Movement: A Reference Guide 1866–1928, pp.269–271
- ^ "British by-election", The Argus, 10 February 1908, p.7
- ^ Duncan Tanner, Political Change and the Labour Party 1900–1918, p.191
- ^ Patricia Pugh, Educate, Agitate, Organize, p.104
- ^ The Standard 14 January 1913
- ^ C. N. Parkinson, Left Luggage
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