John Whittaker Ellis
Sir John Whittaker Ellis William McArthur | |
---|---|
Succeeded by | Henry Knight |
Personal details | |
Born | 25 January 1829[1] |
Died | 20 September 1912 (aged 83) [1] |
Nationality | British |
Political party | Conservative |
Spouse(s) | (1) Mary Ann Staples (d. 1901) (2) Marian Bailey [1] |
Alma mater | Rev. William Allan's School [1] |
Sir John Whittaker Ellis, 1st Baronet
Biography
Born in 1829, Ellis was the fifth son of Joseph Ellis, owner of the Star and Garter Hotel in Petersham, Richmond, Surrey (now London) from 1830 to 1847.[2]
He set up his family in Byfleet, living for many years at Petersham House/Place (built in High Road c. 1859, its surviving front block is 15 High Road, used as Lloyds Bank and a risk consultancy). After a fire there, Ellis organised Byfleet's first fire brigade. He equipped three of his market/domestic gardeners – the Place had attached 17 acres[3] – with three lengths of hose and an obsolete manual pump, put on wheels, kept in a potting shed.
He was a banking executive, auctioneer and estate agent, as well as holding local government posts including alderman of Broad Street Ward, 1872–1909,
He was elected for one of the two seats for Mid Surrey at a by-election in 1884.[5] When that area was abolished he was nominated for and won the 1885 general election and that of the next year for the inceptive Kingston upon Thames seat which took in Richmond but retired in 1892. Hansard records 20 contributions of his, making some each year to 1891 inclusive.[6]
On 6 June 1882 he was made a baronet, of Byfleet in the County of Surrey, and of Hertford Street, Mayfair, in the County of Middlesex,[7] a title which became extinct on his death. He later became the Borough of Richmond's first Mayor, and purchased the site for Richmond's first town hall.[8] In 1899 he was appointed High Sheriff of Surrey for the year.[9] He remarried in 1903, to Marian Bailey.[2]
He was appointed Director of Alliance Bank, 1880, then its Chairman, 1883–86; and served years as Chairman of Emanuel Hospital to 1909.[1]
Death and legacy
Ellis died without offspring on 20 September 1912 and is buried in
In 1885, he funded Byfleet Fire Station which would house a volunteer fire brigade. Initially the
In 1895 a bust of Ellis was unveiled in Richmond Town Hall by Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck;[8] this is still displayed in the staircase alcove.[13]
He is further commemorated by Whittaker Avenue, Richmond.[10] His probate was resworn in 1912, leaving assets of £181,969 (equivalent to about £22,800,000 in 2023) [14]
Lady Ellis
John Whittaker Ellis married, in 1859, Mary Anne Staples, daughter of John Staples.[2]
The first Lady Ellis was a prominent Mayoress both in London and in Richmond, and was identified with many charities in the then greater forms of
Publications
He circulated pamphlets entitled or concerning: "The Land Question, Government of Ireland etc."[1]
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-19-954089-1, retrieved 29 May 2021
- ^ a b c "Sir Whittaker Ellis". The Times. No. 40010. London. 21 September 1912. p. 9.
- ^ "Explore georeferenced maps - Map images - National Library of Scotland". maps.nls.uk.
- ^ a b "ELLIS, Sir John Whittaker (1829–1912)". AIM25. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
- ^ "Mid-Surrey election". Daily Gazette For Middlesbrough. No. 5298. 21 June 1884.
- ^ Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Sir John Ellis, Bt
- ^ "No. 25114". The London Gazette. 2 June 1882. p. 2589.
- ^ a b "Old Town Hall timeline". Local History Timelines. London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
- ^ "No. 27061". The London Gazette. 10 March 1899. p. 1660.
- ^ a b "St Peter's Church, Petersham" (PDF). Local History Notes. London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
- ^ Historic England (27 February 2008). "The Old Fire Station, 40 High Road (1392421)". National Heritage List for England.
- ^ Local Listed Building no. 191, The Heritage of Woking, amended 2000, Borough of Woking: Planning Service, p 12 of 100.
- ^ Photograph and details of bust of Ellis in the Old Town Hall Archived 2 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine London Borough of Richmond-on-Thames: Local History and Heritage: Old Town Hall Timeline
- ^ "Find a will | GOV.UK". probatesearch.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
- ^ "Obituaries – Lady Ellis". The Times. No. 36642. 19 December 1901. p. 6.
Sources
- Byfleet Heritage Society archives
- Stevens, Leonard R (2001, 2nd edition reprint by the Byfleet Heritage Society) ‘Byfleet – A Village of England’ (The Byfleet Heritage Society, Byfleet, Surrey).
- Wakeford, Iain (1983) ‘Bygone Woking’ (Phillimore & Co Ltd, Chichester, ISBN 0-85033-506-X).
- Wakeford, Iain (2000) ‘Byfleet – A Heritage Walks Guide’ (AK, HR & DA Wakeford, Old Woking, Surrey)
- Leigh Rayment's list of baronets
- Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs
- Byfleet Heritage Society website