Edward Marten Dunne
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Marten Dunne (27 August 1864 – 23 February 1944) was a British
army
officer and Liberal
politician.
He was the third son of Thomas Dunne of Gatley Park and Bircher Hall, Herefordshire
and his wife, Harriet (née Russell). His maternal grandfather was General Sir Edward Lechmere Graves Russell of Ashford Hall, Ludlow
, Shropshire
.
Following education at Wellington College
and the Royal Military College Sandhurst
, he received a commission as an officer in the Border Regiment
in 1884. He subsequently entered the Staff College
, passing out of the institution in 1891. In 1896 his father died, and he resigned his commission.
In 1899 he married Grace Daphne Rendel, daughter of Lord Rendel
, former Liberal MP for Montgomeryshire
. On the outbreak of the Second Boer War
in the same year, he volunteered to return to the army, becoming brigade major at Aldershot
. Following the war the couple moved to Gatley Park, an estate adjoining Wigmore Castle
.
In 1905 Dunne unsuccessfully contested a by-election at Kingswinford
for the Liberals. In the following year a general election
was held, and he was elected to serve as member of parliament
for Walsall
. He was only an MP for one term: at the next general election in January of 1910 he was defeated by his Conservative opponent. He was chosen as Liberal candidate for the Melton Division
of Leicestershire
at the next election in December, but was not elected.
On the outbreak of the First World War, Dunne was appointed to the staff of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. In 1915 he was transferred to Chester
, as part of the headquarters staff of the Western Command. He spent the latter part of the war on secondment to the War Office
.
Following the war, he settled back into country life in Herefordshire. He was high sheriff
of the county in 1922, and served as a county alderman
on Herefordshire County Council, where he chaired the education committee
.
Dunne had two daughters and a son. The latter was Philip Russell Rendel Dunne
, who sat as Conservative
MP for Stalybridge and Hyde from 1935 to 1937.
E M Dunne died in February 1944, aged 79.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer and Liberal
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.
He was the third son of Thomas Dunne of Gatley Park and Bircher Hall, Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
and his wife, Harriet (née Russell). His maternal grandfather was General Sir Edward Lechmere Graves Russell of Ashford Hall, Ludlow
Ludlow
Ludlow is a market town in Shropshire, England close to the Welsh border and in the Welsh Marches. It lies within a bend of the River Teme, on its eastern bank, forming an area of and centred on a small hill. Atop this hill is the site of Ludlow Castle and the market place...
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
.
Following education at Wellington College
Wrekin College
Wrekin College is a co-educational independent school located in Wellington, Shropshire, England. It was founded by Sir John Bayley in 1880 and was known as ‘The School in the Garden’ owing to its extensive gardens and playing fields...
and the Royal Military College Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
, he received a commission as an officer in the Border Regiment
Border Regiment
The Border Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 34th Regiment of Foot and the 55th Regiment of Foot....
in 1884. He subsequently entered the Staff College
Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley, Surrey, was a staff college for the British Army from 1802 to 1997, with periods of closure during major wars. In 1997 it was merged into the new Joint Services Command and Staff College.-Origins:...
, passing out of the institution in 1891. In 1896 his father died, and he resigned his commission.
In 1899 he married Grace Daphne Rendel, daughter of Lord Rendel
Stuart Rendel, 1st Baron Rendel
Stuart Rendel, 1st Baron Rendel was a British industrialist, philanthropist and Liberal politician. He sat Liberal Party Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire between 1880 and 1894 and was recognised as the leader of the Welsh MP's...
, former Liberal MP for Montgomeryshire
Montgomeryshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Montgomeryshire is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Created in 1542, it elects one Member of Parliament , traditionally known as the knight of the shire, by the first-past-the-post system of election.The Montgomeryshire Welsh Assembly...
. On the outbreak of the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
in the same year, he volunteered to return to the army, becoming brigade major at Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
. Following the war the couple moved to Gatley Park, an estate adjoining Wigmore Castle
Wigmore Castle
Wigmore Castle is a ruined castle which is barely visible from the village of Wigmore in the northwest region of Herefordshire, England.- History :...
.
In 1905 Dunne unsuccessfully contested a by-election at Kingswinford
Kingswinford (UK Parliament constituency)
Kingswinford was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Kingswinford in Staffordshire. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
for the Liberals. In the following year a general election
United Kingdom general election, 1906
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1906*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
was held, and he was elected to serve as member of parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Walsall
Walsall (UK Parliament constituency)
Walsall was a borough constituency centred on the town of Walsall in the West Midlands of England. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system....
. He was only an MP for one term: at the next general election in January of 1910 he was defeated by his Conservative opponent. He was chosen as Liberal candidate for the Melton Division
Melton (UK Parliament constituency)
Melton was a county constituency centred on the town of Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
of Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
at the next election in December, but was not elected.
On the outbreak of the First World War, Dunne was appointed to the staff of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. In 1915 he was transferred to Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
, as part of the headquarters staff of the Western Command. He spent the latter part of the war on secondment to the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
.
Following the war, he settled back into country life in Herefordshire. He was high sheriff
High Sheriff of Herefordshire
The Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions are now...
of the county in 1922, and served as a county 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...
on Herefordshire County Council, where he chaired the education committee
Local Education Authority
A local education authority is a local authority in England and Wales that has responsibility for education within its jurisdiction...
.
Dunne had two daughters and a son. The latter was Philip Russell Rendel Dunne
Philip Russell Rendel Dunne
Captain Philip Russell Rendel Dunne, MC was an English soldier and politician.Lord of the Manor of Leinthall Earls....
, who sat as 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 for Stalybridge and Hyde from 1935 to 1937.
E M Dunne died in February 1944, aged 79.