Charles Walter Starmer
Encyclopedia
Sir Charles Walter Starmer (12 July 1870 - 27 June 1933) was a British newspaper proprietor and Liberal
politician.
but while he was still a child he moved with his family to the Cleveland
area of the North Riding of Yorkshire
. In 1893 he married Ada Cornforth and they had a daughter. Ada Starmer died in 1923 after a long illness and Starmer was married again in October 1929 to Mary Cecilia Willink, the daughter of John Wakefield Willink
, Dean of Norwich
. Lady Cecilia Starmer who was awarded the OBE
in 1948 and who served as a Justice of the Peace
survived until 1979.
in West Hartlepool
in 1899 working his way up to be its manager by 1908. Later he took over control of the Sheffield Independent, Birmingham Gazette
, and other papers. As Managing Director of the Birmingham Gazette Ltd, the North of England Newspaper Co. Ltd, the Bradford and District Newspaper Co. Ltd and the Nottingham Journal, Ltd, he eventually controlled the publication of 30 provincial daily and weekly newspapers. At his death he was owner of the Westminster Press Group, also known as the Starmer Group. The company included the liberal newspaper the Westminster Gazette
which had merged with the Daily News in 1928. He was a patron of the London School of Journalism
Town Council in 1903, becoming an Alderman
in 1915. He was Mayor
of Darlington in 1907–08 and again in 1933. Starmer fought his first Parliamentary contest at the 1918 general election
. He stood as an independent Asquithian Liberal in the Sedgefield
constituency in County Durham
. He was selected to fight Darlington
as an Independent Liberal for the 1922 general election
but did not put up as a candidate in the event transferring instead to the Cleveland
Division of the North Riding of Yorkshire coming second to the sitting Conservative
MP, Sir Park Goff in a three-cornered contest with Labour
. Then, at the 1923 general election
he stood again in Cleveland and this time was elected Liberal Member of Parliament defeating Goff by a majority of 1,471 votes again a three-cornered contest. However in the Tory
revival of 1924
Starmer was unable to hold on, this time falling to third place in another three-cornered fight. He fought the seat again at the 1929 general election
but again came third, albeit in a tight three-way contest. He did not fight another Parliamentary election being too unwell to stand in 1931
Starmer was a Member of the Executive Committee of the National Liberal Federation from1928 until his death. He also served as a Justice of the Peace.
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician.
Family
Charles Starmer was born in Haltham, near Horncastle in LincolnshireLincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
but while he was still a child he moved with his family to the Cleveland
Cleveland, England
Cleveland is an area in the north east of England. Its name means literally "cliff-land", referring to its hilly southern areas, which rise to nearly...
area of the North Riding of Yorkshire
North Riding of Yorkshire
The North Riding of Yorkshire was one of the three historic subdivisions of the English county of Yorkshire, alongside the East and West Ridings. From the Restoration it was used as a Lieutenancy area. The three ridings were treated as three counties for many purposes, such as having separate...
. In 1893 he married Ada Cornforth and they had a daughter. Ada Starmer died in 1923 after a long illness and Starmer was married again in October 1929 to Mary Cecilia Willink, the daughter of John Wakefield Willink
John Wakefield Willink
The Very Rev John Wakefield Willink, DD was an Anglican Dean in the first half of the 20th century.John Wakefield Willink was educated at Clifton College and Pembroke College, Cambridge. Ordained in 1881, he held a curacy at Bishop Auckland before becoming Vicar of St John’s, Sunderland...
, Dean of Norwich
Dean of Norwich
The Dean of Norwich is the head of the Chapter of Norwich Cathedral in Norwich, England. The current Dean is the Very Revd Graham Charles Morell Smith.*1538-1539 William Castleton, first dean*1539-1554 John Salisbury*1554-1557 John Christopherson...
. Lady Cecilia Starmer who was awarded the OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1948 and who served as a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
survived until 1979.
Career
Starmer was a career journalist and went on to become one of the biggest newspaper proprietors of his day. He joined the commercial staff of The Northern EchoThe Northern Echo
The Northern Echo is a leading daily regional morning newspaper, serving the North East of England. The paper is based in Priestgate, Darlington. Its covers national as well as regional news. It is one of the UK's most famous provincial newspaper titles....
in West Hartlepool
West Hartlepool
This article refers to the place; for the Rugby Football Club see West Hartlepool R.F.C.West Hartlepool refers to the western part of the what has since the 1960s been known as the borough of Hartlepool in North East England...
in 1899 working his way up to be its manager by 1908. Later he took over control of the Sheffield Independent, Birmingham Gazette
Birmingham Gazette
The Birmingham Gazette, known for much of its existence as Aris's Birmingham Gazette, was a newspaper that was published and circulated in Birmingham, England from the eighteenth to the twentieth centuries...
, and other papers. As Managing Director of the Birmingham Gazette Ltd, the North of England Newspaper Co. Ltd, the Bradford and District Newspaper Co. Ltd and the Nottingham Journal, Ltd, he eventually controlled the publication of 30 provincial daily and weekly newspapers. At his death he was owner of the Westminster Press Group, also known as the Starmer Group. The company included the liberal newspaper the Westminster Gazette
Westminster Gazette
The Westminster Gazette was an influential Liberal newspaper based in London. It was known for publishing sketches and short stories, including early works by Raymond Chandler, Anthony Hope and Saki, and travel writing by Rupert Brooke. One of its editors was caricaturist and political cartoonist...
which had merged with the Daily News in 1928. He was a patron of the London School of Journalism
Knighthood
Starmer was knighted for his public services in 1917. His newspaper businesses, political service and interests in labour questions and the condition of the north east of England, were all mentioned in the context of his knighthood.Politics
Starmer was first elected a member of the DarlingtonDarlington
Darlington is a market town in the Borough of Darlington, part of the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It lies on the small River Skerne, a tributary of the River Tees, not far from the main river. It is the main population centre in the borough, with a population of 97,838 as of 2001...
Town Council in 1903, becoming an Alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
in 1915. He was Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Darlington in 1907–08 and again in 1933. Starmer fought his first Parliamentary contest at the 1918 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1918
The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did...
. He stood as an independent Asquithian Liberal in the Sedgefield
Sedgefield (UK Parliament constituency)
Sedgefield is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
constituency in County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
. He was selected to fight Darlington
Darlington (UK Parliament constituency)
Darlington is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
as an Independent Liberal for the 1922 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1922
The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John...
but did not put up as a candidate in the event transferring instead to the Cleveland
Cleveland (UK Parliament constituency)
Cleveland was a county constituency in the North Riding of Yorkshire.-Electorate:It returned one Member of Parliament to the British House of Commons, using the first past the post voting system...
Division of the North Riding of Yorkshire coming second to the sitting Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
MP, Sir Park Goff in a three-cornered contest with Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
. Then, at the 1923 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1923
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
he stood again in Cleveland and this time was elected Liberal Member of Parliament defeating Goff by a majority of 1,471 votes again a three-cornered contest. However in the Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
revival of 1924
United Kingdom general election, 1924
- Seats summary :- References :* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* - External links :* * *...
Starmer was unable to hold on, this time falling to third place in another three-cornered fight. He fought the seat again at the 1929 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1929
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
but again came third, albeit in a tight three-way contest. He did not fight another Parliamentary election being too unwell to stand in 1931
Starmer was a Member of the Executive Committee of the National Liberal Federation from1928 until his death. He also served as a Justice of the Peace.