William Henry Foster (Shropshire)

William Henry Foster (9 April 1846^[1] – 9 March 1924^[2]) was an English Conservative Party politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1870 to 1885. He was originally elected as a Liberal but switched to the Conservatives before the 1880 election.

Foster was the son of William Orme Foster of Apley Park Shropshire and his wife Isabella Grazebrook, daughter of Henry Grazebrook of Liverpool.^[1] His father had been MP for South Staffordshire. Foster was educated at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford.^[1] He was a Justice of the Peace (JP) and Deputy Lieutenant for Shropshire and a JP for Northamptonshire.^[1]

In February 1870 Foster was elected at a by-election as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bridgnorth.^[3] He held the seat until the 1885 general election when it was replaced under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885.^[4]

Foster lived at Spratton Grange, Northampton.^[1] He was nominated in November 1891 for the post of High Sheriff of Shropshire for 1892,^[5] but was not appointed.^[6]

In 1874, Foster married Henrietta Grace Mahon, daughter of Henry Sandford Pakenham Mahon of Strokestown House, Roscommon.^[1] The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on 7 March 1924,^[2] and William died two days later, on 9 March,^[2] aged 77.

References

1. Mair, Robert Henry (1881). Debrett's Illustrated House of Commons and the Judicial Bench 1881. London: Dean & Son. p. 85.
2. "Court Circular". The Times (London). 11 March 1924. p. 17, col B.
3. Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1977]. British parliamentary election results 1832–1885 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 60. ISBN 0-900178-26-4.
4. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "B" (part 5)
5. "Nomination Of Sheriffs". The Times (London). 13 November 1901. pp. 14, col B.
6. The London Gazette: no. 26146. p. 1653. 24 March 1892.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by William Foster