Bertram Straus

Bertram Stuart Straus (17 March 1867 – 26 August 1933) was a British businessman and Liberal Party politician.[1][2]

Bertram Straus
Bertram Straus

Background

Born in Manchester, he was the son of Henry S Straus of Sedgley Park, a merchant and vice consul for the Netherlands.[1][2][3] Following education at Harrow School he was articled to Hale & Sons, colonial brokers in the City of London.[4] The company specialised in the importation of ostrich feathers, ivory, rubber, mother of pearl, drugs, gums, spices, cocoa, mica, isinglass, fibres and carpets.[5] He subsequently became a partner in the business, from which he retired in 1898.[1][6] He was later chairman of Virol Limited, manufacturers of "Virol", a malt extract based vitamin preparation.[1][7]

Politics

Straus entered politics as a member of Marylebone Vestry, and was later elected as a Progressive Party Councillor to represent Mile End on the London County Council in 1898, and was re-elected in 1901 and 1904.[4][8][9][10]

At the 1895 general election Straus was chosen as the Liberal candidate to contest the constituency of Marylebone West, but failed to be elected.[1] At the next general election in 1900 he stood at Tower Hamlets, St George, narrowly failing to be elected.[4]

St George's in London County with boundaries used in 1900
General election 1900: Tower Hamlets, St. George[11] Electorate
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Dewar 1,437 55.7 +5.6
Liberal Bertram Straus 1,141 44.3 -5.6
Majority 296 11.4 +11.2
Turnout 3,518 73.3 -9.4
Conservative hold Swing +5.6

When the 1905 Mile End by-election was held at Mile End in 1905, Straus came close to winning the seat, losing to the Liberal Unionist candidate Harry Levy-Leveson by 78 votes.[1]

Mile End in London County with boundaries used 1905–1910
1905 Mile End by-election[11] Electorate 5,380
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist Harry Levy-Lawson 2,138 50.9 -14.7
Liberal Bertram Straus 2,060 49.1 +14.7
Majority 78 1.8 -29.4
Turnout 5,380 78.0 +15.1
Liberal Unionist hold Swing -14.7

When a general election was held in the following year, Straus again faced Levy-Lawson at Mile End and managed to unseat him to become member of parliament.[1]

General election 1906: Tower Hamlets, Mile End[11] Electorate 5,419
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Bertram Straus 2,295 51.4 +2.3
Liberal Unionist Harry Levy-Lawson 2,169 48.6 -2.3
Majority 126 2.8 4.6
Turnout 5,419 82.4 +4.4
Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist Swing +2.3

Straus was only to hold the seat for a single term, with Levy-Leveson regaining it at the next election in January 1910 by 57 votes.

General election January 1910: Tower Hamlets, Mile End[11] Electorate 5,464
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist Harry Levy-Lawson 2,332 50.6 +2.0
Liberal Bertram Straus 2,275 49.4 -2.0
Majority 57 1.2 4.0
Turnout 84.3 +1.9
Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +2.0

When a further election was held in December 1910, Straus and Levy-Lawson again faced each other, with Levy-Lawson holding the seat by only 6 votes.[1]

General election December 1910: Tower Hamlets, Mile End[11] Electorate 5,464
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist Harry Levy-Lawson 2,176 50.1 -0.5
Liberal Bertram Straus 2,170 49.9 +0.5
Majority 6 0.2 -1.0
Turnout 79.5 -4.8
Liberal Unionist hold Swing -0.5

He did not stand for parliament again.

Straus never married and died at his home at Hyde Park Mansions in August 1933, aged 66.[2] He was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium.[3]

References
  1. "STRAUS, Bertram Stuart". Who Was Who. Oxford University Press. December 2007. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  2. "Obituary: Mr. B. S. Straus". The Times. 29 August 1933. p. 13.
  3. "Deaths". The Times. 29 August 1933. p. 1.
  4. "Biographies of New Members". The Times. 25 January 1906. p. 15.
  5. "Hale and Son". Whitakers Red Book. 1914. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  6. "No. 26976". The London Gazette. 10 June 1898. p. 8589.
  7. "Virol, Limited". Straits Times. 29 September 1925. p. 2. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  8. The London County Council Elections, The Times, 4 March 1898, p.10
  9. London County Council Election, The Times, 4 March 1901, p.7
  10. London County Council Election, The Times, 7 March 1904, p.12
  11. Craig, F.W.S. (1974). British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 (1 ed.). London: Macmillan.
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