Alexander Learmonth (politician)

Lt. Col. Alexander Learmonth (1829 - 10 March 1887)[1] was a British Army officer and a Conservative Party politician.

Alexander Learmonth
Member of Parliament
for Colchester
In office
3 November 1870 – 31 March 1880
Serving with William Brewer (until 1874)
Herbert Mackworth-Praed (from 1874)
Preceded byJohn Gurdon Rebow
Succeeded byRichard Causton
William Willis
Personal details
Born1829 (1829)
Edinburgh, Scotland
Died10 March 1887(1887-03-10) (aged 57–58)
London, England
Political partyConservative
Spouse
Charlotte Lyons
(m. 1859)
ChildrenSeven

Life

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Born at 4 Princes Street in Edinburgh, the eldest son of John Learmonth,[2] Alexander Learmonth was educated at University College, Oxford, where he matriculated in 1847 before entering the Inner Temple to study law. He joined the Army and became a Colonel in the 17th Lancers.[3]

On retiring from the Army he was elected Conservative MP for Colchester on 3 November 1870,[4] sitting from 1870 to 1880.[5]

In 1859, he married Charlotte Lyons, the eldest daughter of Lieutenant-General Humphrey Lyons.[6] The couple had 7 children.[citation needed]

By 1887, his extravagant London lifestyle caused his bankruptcy and the lands he had inherited in Edinburgh from his father were sold to the builder James Steel.[7]

Learmonth died in London on 10 March 1887.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "C" (part 5)
  2. ^ Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1829
  3. ^ "36" . Page:Alumni Oxoniensis (1715-1886) volume 3.djvu – via Wikisource.
  4. ^ "Mr Alexander Learmonth, former MP, Colchester".
  5. ^ Craig, F. W. S., ed. (1977). British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885 (e-book) (1st ed.). London: Macmillan Press. ISBN 978-1-349-02349-3.
  6. ^ a b "Obituary". The Times. No. 32017. London. 11 March 1887. p. 8. Retrieved 17 June 2024 – via The Times Digital Archive.
  7. ^ Edinburgh: Mapping the City, Fleet & MacCannell.
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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Colchester
18701880
With: William Brewer (until 1874)
Herbert Mackworth-Praed (from 1874)
Succeeded by