Norval Helme

Sir Norval Watson Helme (22 September 1849 – 6 March 1932)[1] was an English businessman and Liberal Party politician from Lancaster. He held a series of local political offices before winning a seat in the House of Commons in 1900.

Norval Helme

Helme was the son of James Helme, from Lancaster. He was educated at the Lancaster Royal Grammar School, and entered his father's business James Helme and Company, whose Halton Mills manufactured oilcloth, baize and leathercloth.[2] By 1900, he was the senior partner of the company.[2]

He served for many years as a member of Lancaster City Council, becoming an alderman, and served as Mayor of Lancaster from 1896 to 1897.[3] When Lancashire County Council was created in 1889, he was elected to represent the city of Lancaster, and served on the County Council until at least 1900, having been returned unopposed at each election.[2]

At the 1900 general election Helme was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Lancaster division of Lancashire,[4] defeating by only 44 votes the sitting Conservative MP William Henry Foster.[5] He was re-elected in 1906[6] with an increased majority of 884 votes (7.2%) over Foster,[5] and held the seat at both the January[7] and December elections[8] in 1910. He was knighted in July 1912.[9] However, at the 1918, Helme did not receive the Coalition Coupon, and was defeated by the Coalition Conservative candidate Sir Archibald Hunter.[10]

References
  1. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "L" (part 1)
  2. "Biographies Of New Members". The Times. London. 16 October 1900. p. 13, col A.
  3. Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench 1901. London: Dean & Son. 1901. pp. 69–70.
  4. "No. 27244". The London Gazette. 6 November 1900. p. 6771.
  5. Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1977]. British parliamentary election results 1832–1885 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 320. ISBN 0-900178-26-4.
  6. "No. 27885". The London Gazette. 13 February 1906. p. 1042.
  7. "No. 28338". The London Gazette. 11 February 1910. p. 1032.
  8. "No. 28449". The London Gazette. 23 December 1910. p. 9552.
  9. "No. 28626". The London Gazette. 12 July 1912. p. 5081.
  10. Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 399. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
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