Arthur Walters Wills

Arthur Walters Wills (1868-17 November 1948), was a British Liberal Party politician.

Arthur Walters Wills
Member of Parliament for North Dorset
In office January 1905 – January 1910
Preceded by	John Kenelm Digby Wingfield-Digby
Succeeded by	Randolf Littlehales Baker
Personal details
Born	Arthur Walters Wills 1868
Died	17 November 1948
Nationality	British
Political party	Liberal
Spouse	Margery Eyre-Walker

Background

He was a son of George Wills of Moretonhampstead, Devon. He was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge. He married in 1908, Margery Eyre-Walker of Byfleet, Surrey. They had two sons and two daughters.

Legal career

He took honours in law in 1890. As a Barrister-at-law, he was called to Bar in 1894 and joined the Western Circuit.

Political career

He sat as Liberal MP for Dorset North from January 1905 to January 1910. He was elected at the first time of asking at the North Dorset by-election in January 1905 when he gained the seat from the Conservatives.

1905 North Dorset by-election Electorate 8,338

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Arthur Wills	4,239	56.0	+9.9
	Conservative	Randolph Baker	3,330	44.0	−9.9
Majority				12.0	19.8
Turnout				90.8
	Liberal gain from Conservative		Swing	+9.9

He held the seat a year later at the 1906 General Election.

General election January 1906 Electorate 8,490

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Arthur Wills	4,153	54.2	−1.8
	Conservative	Randolf Baker	3,508	45.8	+1.8
Majority				8.4	−3.6
Turnout				90.2	−0.6
	Liberal hold		Swing	-1.8

He lost his seat back to the Conservatives at the January 1910 General Election. He failed to re-gain his seat at the general election 11 months later;

General election December 1910 Electorate 8,525

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Randolf Baker	3,919	50.2
	Liberal	Arthur Wills	3,887	49.8
Turnout			7,806	91.6
Majority			32	0.4
	Conservative hold		Swing

He did not stand for parliament again.

Sources

• Who Was Who
• British parliamentary election results 1885–1918, Craig, F. W. S.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Arthur Wills
• Who Was Who; http://www.ukwhoswho.com