William Ambrose (politician)

William Ambrose KC (22 April 1832 – 18 January 1908)[1] was an English judge and Conservative Party politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1899.

Ambrose in 1895.

Life and career

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Ambrose was born at Chester, the son of Richard and Mary Ambrose.[2] He was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1859 and migrated to Middle Temple in 1869. In 1874, he became a Queen's Counsel and in 1881 a bencher.[3] At the 1885 general election he was elected as Conservative MP for Harrow.[4] He held the seat until 1899 when he resigned on being appointed a Master in Lunacy.[4]

Personal life

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Ambrose married Georgianna Mary Anne Jones, daughter of William Jones of Camden in 1866[3] and had several children. The couple lived in 1881 at Westover, West Heath Road, Child's Hill, then narrowly part of Hendon, Middlesex.[5] Ambrose's home as at 1909, per his probate, re-sworn at the sum of £25,315 (rounded) (equivalent to £3,000,000 in 2023) was still that large house "Westover" which enjoyed 2.5 acres (1.0 ha) postally and so often considered Hampstead, but not in the County of London, rather a true part of Middlesex run by Middlesex County Council of which he was a longer-term representative, an alderman.[6]

Death

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Grave of William Ambrose in Highgate Cemetery

He is buried on the western side of Highgate Cemetery with his wife and her parents.

References

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  1. ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "H" (part 1)
  2. ^ Holy Trinity Chester - Parish Register
  3. ^ a b Debretts House of Commons and Judicial Guide 1886
  4. ^ a b Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1974]. British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 347. ISBN 0-900178-27-2.
  5. ^ British Census 1881 RG11 1367/125 p57
  6. ^ Calendar of Probates sworn in 1909, accessible at probatesearch.gov.uk and also kept at the Central Probate Registry
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Parliament of the United Kingdom
New constituency Member of Parliament for Harrow
18851899
Succeeded by