Albert Dunn

Albert Edward Dunn (13 February 1864 – 2 May 1937) was a radical British Liberal Party politician who served as Mayor of Exeter and as a Member of Parliament.

For the New Brunswick politician, see Albert T. Dunn.

Background

He was the eldest son of William Henry Dunn JP of Exeter. He was educated at Hallam Hall College, Clevedon in Somerset. He was unmarried.[1]

Professional career

In 1887 he was admitted as a solicitor. In 1892 he was a founding partner in the firm of Dunn & Baker, solicitors of Exeter. He later became a partner for Dunn, Baker & Co. of London. He retired from his legal work to concentrate on his political career. In 1914 on the outbreak of war, he received a commission with the Sportsman's Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers and was responsible for recruiting a company of soldiers from Exeter and the West Country.[2]

Political career

His first venture into politics had been standing as a candidate for election to Exeter City Council, to which he was first elected in 1888.[3] He first stood for election to Parliament at the 1892 general election, when he was unsuccessful in the Conservative-held Exeter constituency. He did not contest the General Elections of 1895 and 1900. Like his father, he served as a Justice of the peace in Exeter. He remained active in local politics in Exeter and served twice as Mayor of Exeter, in 1900-01 and in 1901-02.[4] In 1905 he served as Honorary Town clerk of Exeter.[5] He returned to parliamentary politics for the 1906 general election, when he was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for the Cornish mining constituency of Camborne. He had held the seat for the Liberal Party with an increased majority despite the presence of a socialist candidate;

General election 1906[6] Electorate 9,210
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Albert Edward Dunn 4,614 65.0 +9.6
Conservative Sir Thomas Hewitt 2,384 33.5 -11.1
Social Democratic Federation John Joseph Jones 109 1.5 n/a
Majority 2,230 31.5 +20.7
Turnout 77.2 +3.0
Liberal hold Swing +10.3

He was re-elected in January 1910, again increasing his majority despite the Liberal Party losing ground across the country;

General election January 1910[7] Electorate 9,375
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Albert Edward Dunn 5,027 66.0 +1.0
Liberal Unionist Norman G Chamberlain 2,587 34.0 +0.5
Majority 32.0 +1.0
Turnout 81.2 +4.0
Liberal hold Swing +0.5

He decided not to defend his seat at the December 1910 general election. He stood again at the December 1918 general electionbut this time in the neighbouring constituency of St Ives and not as Liberal, but as a candidate for the Labour Party. His Liberal opponent was supported by the Coalition Government and won;

General election 1918 St Ives[8] Electorate 28,537
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Sir Clifford John Cory 8,659 58.6 +2.6
Labour Albert Edward Dunn 6,659 38.4 n/a
Ind. Unionist Thomas Francis Tregoy Mitchell 436 3.0 n/a
Majority 3,000 20.2 +8.2
Turnout 14,754 51.7 -29.0
Liberal hold Swing n/a

He did not contest the 1922 General Election but did contest St Ives again at the 1923 General Election where he finished third;

General election 1923: St Ives[9] Electorate 29,877
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Sir Clifford John Cory 9,922 46.5 +0.0
Unionist John Anthony Hawke 8,652 40.6 -12.9
Labour Albert Edward Dunn 2,749 12.9 n/a
Majority 1,270 5.9 12.9
Turnout 21,323 71.4 +5.8
Liberal gain from Unionist Swing +6.5

References
  1. ‘DUNN, Albert Edward’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2014; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014; online edn, April 2014 accessed 25 Aug 2014 Archived 12 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ‘DUNN, Albert Edward’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2014; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014; online edn, April 2014 accessed 25 Aug 2014 Archived 12 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Liberal Year Book, 1907
  4. ‘DUNN, Albert Edward’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2014; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014; online edn, April 2014 accessed 25 Aug 2014 Archived 12 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Liberal Year Book, 1907
  6. British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)
  7. British parliamentary election results, 1885-1918 (Craig)
  8. Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
  9. Craig, F. W. S. (1983). British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (3 ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
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