Richard Godson

Richard Godson, QC (1797–1849) was an English barrister and politician. He was member of Parliament for St Albans in 1831–32 and then Kidderminster 1832–34 and 1837–1849.[1][2] His father was William Godson of Worcester who died in 1822.[3] His brothers were Septimus Holmes Godson, barrister, and Stephen Godson, attorney.[2] Godson's relationship with Kidderminster began when he defended carpet-weavers on trial there in 1830.[4] In 1835, following the abolition of slavery, Godson received compensation for enslaved persons associated with the Pusey Hall Estate in Jamaica.[5] He had declared this "embarrassment" openly while campaigning, during which time he supported both the First Reform Bill and emancipation.[4]

Richard Godson, 1832 engraving

References
  1. Peter Davis (2013). The Diary of a Shropshire Farmer: A Young Yeoman's Life and Travels 1835-37. Amberley Publishing Limited. p. 209. ISBN 978-1-4456-2573-7.
  2. GODSON, Richard (1797-1849). History of Parliament. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  3. Attested copy of the will of William Godson of Tenbury (Worcs). National Archives. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  4. "GODSON, Richard (1797-1849), of Inner Temple and 22 Woburn Place, Mdx". The History of Parliament. 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  5. "Jamaica Vere 42 (Pusey Hall Estate), Legacies of British Slave-ownership database". 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.


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