John Adam Day

John Adam Day (6 July 1901 – 7 June 1966), was a British Liberal Party parliamentary candidate who later became a prominent Conservative in Devon local government.

John Day in the 1930s

Background

He was the son of Herbert Allen Day and Isabella Maud Black.[1] He was educated at Bedales School and the London School of Economics.[2] He married, in 1932, Kathleen Emily Hebditch. They had one son and one daughter. He was a Hereditary Freeman of the City of Norwich.[3]

Career

He was appointed a County Magistrate for Devon in 1938. He served in the Royal Air Force from 1940 to 1944. He was a Flight Lieutenant and Deputy Assistant Provost Marshal in charge of Cornwall. He was invalided out in 1944.[4]

Political career

He was Liberal candidate for the Bury St Edmunds Division of Suffolk at the 1924 General Election. This was a safe Conservative seat that the Liberals had not contested since before 1918;

General Election 1924: Bury St Edmunds[5] Electorate
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Walter Edward Guinness 16,073 63.0
Liberal John Adam Day 9,392 37.0
Majority 6,681 26.2
Turnout 25,533 82.0
Conservative hold Swing

He was Liberal candidate for the Thornbury Division of Gloucestershire at the 1929 General Election. This was a more promising seat that the Liberals had last won in 1923;

Election Political result Candidate Party Votes % ±%
General election, 1929[8]
Electorate: 49,645
Turnout: 40,973 (82.5%) +3.0		Conservative hold
Majority: 300 (0.8%) −6.7
Swing: 3.4% from Con to Lib 		Derrick Wellesley GunstonConservative13,91434.0−8.8
John Adam Day Liberal13,61433.2−2.1
Godfrey Elton Labour13,44532.8+10.9

He was Liberal candidate for the Tavistock Division of Devon at the 1931 General Election. He was hoping to take the seat from the Conservatives who had narrowly held the seat since taking it from the Liberals in 1924. At an election in which both main contenders claimed to be supporters of the National Government, the Conservative hung on;[9]

General Election 1931: Tavistock[10] Electorate 39,637
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Colin Mark Patrick 17,310 52.4
Liberal John Adam Day 13,592 41.2
Labour Richard Davies 2,124 6.4
Majority 3,718 11.2
Turnout 83.3
Conservative hold Swing

He was elected a Member of Devon County Council in 1932.[11] He was again Liberal candidate for the Tavistock Division of Devon at the 1935 General Election, again without success;

General Election 1935: Tavistock[12] Electorate 42,560
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Colin Mark Patrick 17,475 52.8
Liberal John Adam Day 13,422 40.5
Labour C H Townsend 2,236 6.7
Majority 4,053 12.3
Turnout 77.9
Conservative hold Swing

He was Treasurer of the Devon & Cornwall Liberal Federation.[13]

Civic career

He was elected an Alderman of Devon County Council in 1947. He served as Vice-Chairman of the Devon County Council Education Committee 1947–55. He served as Chairman of the Devon County Council Children's Committee 1948–55. He served as Sheriff of Devon, 1949–50.[14] He served as Vice-Chairman of Devon County Council from 1955 to 1965. He served as Chairman of the Devon County Council Finance Committee 1956–65. He was Chairman of Torquay Division Conservative Association 1961–63. He served as Chairman of the Devon Community Council in 1962. He served as Chairman of Devon County Council from 1965 to 1966. He was a Member of the Economic Planning Council for the South West from 1965 to 1966.[15]

References
  1. "Home". ukWhosWho.com.
  2. The Times House of Commons, 1929
  3. "Home". ukWhosWho.com.
  4. "Home". ukWhosWho.com.
  5. British parliamentary election results 1918–1949, Craig, F. W. S.
  6. British parliamentary election results 1918–1949, Craig, F. W. S.
  7. British parliamentary election results 1918–1949, Craig, F. W. S.
  8. British parliamentary election results 1918–1949, Craig, F. W. S.
  9. The Times House of Commons, 1931
  10. British parliamentary election results 1918–1949, Craig, F. W. S.
  11. The Times House of Commons, 1935
  12. British parliamentary election results 1918–1949, Craig, F. W. S.
  13. The Liberal Party in South-west Britain Since 1918, by Garry Tregidga
  14. "No. 38556". The London Gazette. 8 March 1949. p. 1202.
  15. "Home". ukWhosWho.com.
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