James Arthur Dawes
Encyclopedia
James Arthur Dawes was an English solicitor
, businessman and Liberal
Member of Parliament (MP) from 1910 to 1921.
, Middlesex
, a solicitor in Angel Court, Throgmorton Street
, London. He was educated at Harrow School
and University College, Oxford
where he gained MA and Bachelor of Civil Law
degrees. In 1920 he married Violet Pridmore from Penge
in Surrey
. They do not appear to have had children.
for the County of London
. From the outset of the First World War, Dawes served with the Royal Naval Reserve
and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve raising to the rank of acting Commander
by 1918. He was engaged in mine-sweeping operations and from July 1918 he served at the Admiralty
. Unsurprisingly, one of Dawes recreations was yachting
.
in Southwark
. He took a strong interest in local affairs and was Chairman of the Vestry of Newington, the equivalent of a Parish council, from 1897-1900. Dawes was then the first Mayor
of the Borough of Southwark
from 1900-1901 and Deputy Mayor the following year. He was re-elected Mayor in 1913-14 and 1914-15. He also served as a founder member of the Metropolitan Water Board in 1903-1904. He was later elected as a member of the London County Council
for the Progressive Party
for Newington Walworth for various years between 1906 and 1913. In 1911 Dawes was appointed to the Joint Committee of the two Houses of Parliament to consider the Bill promoted by the Metropolitan Water Board to construct a series of new works and reservoirs on the River Thames
at Staines
. From 1912-14 he was Chairman of the Insurance Committee for the County of London, created to administer the medical aspects of the National Insurance Act of 1911
, which for the first time established compulsory contributory insurance against illness and unemployment for workers. Dawes Street, London SE 17 was named after him to commemorate his appointment as the first Mayor of the Borough of Southwark.
in succession to Charles James O'Donnell
who had decided not to contest the next election. Dawes was duly elected as Liberal MP for Walworth
at the general election of January 1910. He held the seat with a slightly increased majority in December 1910. In 1918 his constituency disappeared in boundary changes but he was selected for the new local constituency of Southwark South East
. He fought the 1918 general election
as a Coalition Liberal, that is as a supporter of the Coalition Government
of Prime Minister
David Lloyd George
. He presumably received the Coalition Coupon
because he was not opposed by a Unionist
candidate and won in a straight fight with Labour
.
in Devon
where he had his country home. His appointment was not to last long however as he died on 14 November 1921 at Sydenham
at the age of 55 years. His death caused a by-election in Southwark
which was won by Thomas Ellis Naylor
for Labour. Dawes was buried in the churchyard at Perivale
, a suburb of Ealing.
Dawes also published a Dissertation on the Law of Partnership in 1909 and was co-author of the Report of the National Committee to Promote the Break-up of the Poor Law in 1910.
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
, businessman 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...
Member of Parliament (MP) from 1910 to 1921.
Family and education
James Arthur Dawes was the son of Richard Dawes of Castle Hill, EalingEaling
Ealing is a suburban area of west London, England and the administrative centre of the London Borough of Ealing. It is located west of Charing Cross and around from the City of London. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically a rural village...
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, a solicitor in Angel Court, Throgmorton Street
Throgmorton Street
Throgmorton Street is a street in the City of London between Lothbury to the west and Old Broad Street to the east. It is named after Sir Nicholas Throckmorton, chief banker of England in the reign of Queen Elizabeth and head of an ancient Warwickshire family. The London Stock Exchange formerly...
, London. He was educated at Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
and University College, Oxford
University College, Oxford
.University College , is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2009 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £110m...
where he gained MA and Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law is the name of various degrees in law conferred by English-language universities. Historically, it originated as a postgraduate degree in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, but many universities now offer the BCL as an undergraduate degree...
degrees. In 1920 he married Violet Pridmore from Penge
Penge
Penge is a suburb of London in the London Borough of Bromley. It is located south east of Charing Cross.-History:Penge was once a small town, which was recorded under the name Penceat in a Saxon deed dating from 957...
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. They do not appear to have had children.
Career
Dawes qualified as a solicitor in 1891 and was admitted in his father’s firm, Mssrs. Dawes and Sons, in January 1892 He was later a Justice of the PeaceJustice 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...
for the County of London
County of London
The County of London was a county of England from 1889 to 1965, corresponding to the area known today as Inner London. It was created as part of the general introduction of elected county government in England, by way of the Local Government Act 1888. The Act created an administrative County of...
. From the outset of the First World War, Dawes served with the Royal Naval Reserve
Royal Naval Reserve
The Royal Naval Reserve is the volunteer reserve force of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. The present Royal Naval Reserve was formed in 1958 by merging the original Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve , a reserve of civilian volunteers founded in 1903...
and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve raising to the rank of acting Commander
Commander (Royal Navy)
Commander is a senior officer rank of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom. It is immediately junior to captain and immediately senior to the rank of lieutenant commander...
by 1918. He was engaged in mine-sweeping operations and from July 1918 he served at the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
. Unsurprisingly, one of Dawes recreations was yachting
Yachting
Yachting refers to recreational sailing or boating, the specific act of sailing or using other water vessels for sporting purposes.-Competitive sailing:...
.
Southwark and London Politics
Dawes had a home in Kennington Park RoadKennington Park Road
Kennington Park Road is a main road in south-east London, England, and is part of the A3 trunk road. It runs from Newington Butts at its Y-junction with Kennington Lane, south-west to the Oval, where the A3 continues as Clapham Road, towards Stockwell...
in Southwark
Southwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
. He took a strong interest in local affairs and was Chairman of the Vestry of Newington, the equivalent of a Parish council, from 1897-1900. Dawes was then the first 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 the Borough of Southwark
Metropolitan Borough of Southwark
The Metropolitan Borough of Southwark was a metropolitan borough in the County of London from 1900 to 1965. It was created to cover the western section of the ancient borough of Southwark and formed the northwestern part of the current London Borough of Southwark. In common with the rest of inner...
from 1900-1901 and Deputy Mayor the following year. He was re-elected Mayor in 1913-14 and 1914-15. He also served as a founder member of the Metropolitan Water Board in 1903-1904. He was later elected as a member of the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
for the Progressive Party
Progressive Party (London)
The Progressive Party was a political party based around the Liberal Party that contested municipal elections in the County of London.It was founded in 1888 by a group of Liberals and leaders of the labour movement. It was also supported by the Fabian Society, and Sidney Webb was one of its...
for Newington Walworth for various years between 1906 and 1913. In 1911 Dawes was appointed to the Joint Committee of the two Houses of Parliament to consider the Bill promoted by the Metropolitan Water Board to construct a series of new works and reservoirs on the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
at Staines
Staines
Staines is a Thames-side town in the Spelthorne borough of Surrey and Greater London Urban Area, as well as the London Commuter Belt of South East England. It is a suburban development within the western bounds of the M25 motorway and located 17 miles west south-west of Charing Cross in...
. From 1912-14 he was Chairman of the Insurance Committee for the County of London, created to administer the medical aspects of the National Insurance Act of 1911
National Insurance Act 1911
The National Insurance Act 1911 is an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Act is often regarded as one of the foundations of modern social welfare in the United Kingdom and forms part of the wider social welfare reforms of the Liberal Government of 1906-1914...
, which for the first time established compulsory contributory insurance against illness and unemployment for workers. Dawes Street, London SE 17 was named after him to commemorate his appointment as the first Mayor of the Borough of Southwark.
Parliament
By 1908 Dawes had been selected as prospective Liberal candidate for WalworthNewington Walworth (UK Parliament constituency)
Walworth was a parliamentary constituency centred on the Walworth district of South London, within the Newington Vestry...
in succession to Charles James O'Donnell
Charles James O'Donnell
Charles James O'Cahan O'Donnell was an Irish colonial administrator, politician and a member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
who had decided not to contest the next election. Dawes was duly elected as Liberal MP for Walworth
Newington Walworth (UK Parliament constituency)
Walworth was a parliamentary constituency centred on the Walworth district of South London, within the Newington Vestry...
at the general election of January 1910. He held the seat with a slightly increased majority in December 1910. In 1918 his constituency disappeared in boundary changes but he was selected for the new local constituency of Southwark South East
Southwark South East (UK Parliament constituency)
Southwark South East was a parliamentary constituency in the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark, in South London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
. He fought 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...
as a Coalition Liberal, that is as a supporter of the Coalition Government
Coalition Government 1916-1922
The Coalition Government of David Lloyd George came to power in the United Kingdom in December 1916, replacing the earlier wartime coalition under H.H. Asquith, which had been held responsible for reverses during the Great War. Those Liberals who continued to support Asquith served as the Opposition...
of Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
. He presumably received the Coalition Coupon
Coalition Coupon
The ‘Coalition Coupon’, often referred to as ‘the coupon’, refers to the letter sent to parliamentary candidates at the United Kingdom general election, 1918 endorsing them as official representatives of the Coalition Government. The 1918 election took place in the heady atmosphere of victory in...
because he was not opposed by a Unionist
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...
candidate and won in a straight fight 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...
.
Death
On 9 November 1921 Dawes was chosen as Mayor of DartmouthDartmouth, Devon
Dartmouth is a town and civil parish in the English county of Devon. It is a tourist destination set on the banks of the estuary of the River Dart, which is a long narrow tidal ria that runs inland as far as Totnes...
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
where he had his country home. His appointment was not to last long however as he died on 14 November 1921 at Sydenham
Sydenham
Sydenham is an area and electoral ward in the London Borough of Lewisham; although some streets towards Crystal Palace Park, Forest Hill and Penge are outside the ward and in the London Borough of Bromley, and some streets off Sydenham Hill are in the London Borough of Southwark. Sydenham was in...
at the age of 55 years. His death caused a by-election in Southwark
Southwark South East by-election, 1921
The Southwark South East by-election, 1921 was a parliamentary by-election held on 14 December 1921 for the British House of Commons constituency of Southwark South East, in the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark in London....
which was won by Thomas Ellis Naylor
Thomas Naylor (UK politician)
Thomas Ellis Naylor was a British Labour Party politician.- External links :...
for Labour. Dawes was buried in the churchyard at Perivale
Perivale
Perivale is a small suburb in the London Borough of Ealing, west of Charing Cross, central London. Landmarks in the suburb include the A40, a large road that connects Central London with the M40 motorway, and the large Art Deco Hoover Building, as well as St Mary's Church , the River Brent and...
, a suburb of Ealing.
Works
Dawes wrote two associated pamphlets on National Insurance for the Liberal Party.- National Health Insurance: Part 1 of the National Insurance Act 1911 - Liberal Publications Dept, 1912
- National Health Insurance: Part 2 of the National Insurance Act 1911 - Liberal Publications Dept, 1912
Dawes also published a Dissertation on the Law of Partnership in 1909 and was co-author of the Report of the National Committee to Promote the Break-up of the Poor Law in 1910.