James Daniel Gilbert
Encyclopedia
James Daniel Gilbert was a British Liberal
politician, banker and City
merchant. He was born and brought up in West Newington, a part of London
around what is now the Elephant and Castle
and was educated privately.
(LCC). In 1898 he was elected Progressive Party
member for his home area of West Newington. He represented the seat as a Progressive and later as a Liberal right through until 1928, by which time it had been re-named Central Southwark, losing by just 56 votes to Labour.
During his time on the LCC Gilbert held many committee chairmanships, including those responsible for Corporate Property, the Fire Brigade and Rivers. He was also Progressive Chief Whip
from 1901-1907. He was particularly involved with issues of transport, campaigning to keep public transport fares low, to ease travelling conditions for passengers and reduce accidents. He took a special interest in transport questions on and around the River Thames
. He proposed a resolution for a Circular Overbridge and for trams along the Embankment
. He was later instrumental in securing a Steamboats Bill and organised the first services. Gilbert was a member of the Port of London Authority
between 1913 and 1939 and chaired its River Committee from 1934-1939. He was the LCC representative on the Thames Conservancy
and was its chairman for the year 1937-38. He was a member of the River Wandle
Advisory Committee from 1928-35. He was also an early proponent for the new County Hall
building to be located overlooking the Thames near Westminster Bridge
. He served as the LCC nominee on the Council of Morley College
. Gilbert acquired the reputation of being a master of detail as a politician on the LCC and was an expert at asking questions to elicit information useful to his causes. He was said to have carried those skills into his Parliamentary career.
in January 1916 in his home constituency and LCC seat of West Newington
. The sitting Member of Parliament (MP), Captain Cecil Norton
, who had held the seat since 1892 was given a peerage
. The Unionist candidate, Warwick Brookes, decided to stand aside in the by-election under the terms of a truce between the political parties during the war and endorsed Gilbert’s candidacy. This left Gilbert a straight fight with independent candidate, J J Terrett and he won the contest easily by 2,646 votes to Terrett’s 787. Brookes’ decision to give way may have been influenced by the fact that he was soon after adopted as Coalition Unionist candidate for Mile End
which he went on to win. Like its equivalent LCC seat, the West Newington Parliamentary constituency was renamed for the 1918 general election
. It became Central Southwark
and Gilbert held it at the general elections of 1918, 1922
and 1923
, this time in a three-cornered contest, before losing to Labour in 1924
, again in a three-cornered fight.
While in Parliament Gilbert served as a member of the Select Committee on Transport (1918) and was a member of the Select Committee on London Traffic (1919). He was Chairman of the Kennington Park
Extension Committee (1921) which bought land that became the swimming pool, flower garden and children's playground and was a Trustee of the Crystal Palace
. He was also a Chairman of Standing Committees of the House of Commons in 1923 and 1924. He was elected Chairman of the London Liberal MPs' Group in 1919, 1922 and 1924.
(or Conservative) benches. John Gilbert was a Roman Catholic but James was an agnostic. According to someone who knew them both, they never spoke to each other and were completely opposite in character.
Gilbert died in Stourbridge
, Worcestershire
on 26 September 1941.
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, banker and City
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
merchant. He was born and brought up in West Newington, a part of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
around what is now the Elephant and Castle
Elephant and Castle
The Elephant and Castle is a major road intersection in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Southwark. It is also used as a name for the surrounding area....
and was educated privately.
London County Council
Involved in Liberal politics from the 1880s, Gilbert started his political career on the London County CouncilLondon 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...
(LCC). In 1898 he was elected 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...
member for his home area of West Newington. He represented the seat as a Progressive and later as a Liberal right through until 1928, by which time it had been re-named Central Southwark, losing by just 56 votes to Labour.
During his time on the LCC Gilbert held many committee chairmanships, including those responsible for Corporate Property, the Fire Brigade and Rivers. He was also Progressive Chief Whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
from 1901-1907. He was particularly involved with issues of transport, campaigning to keep public transport fares low, to ease travelling conditions for passengers and reduce accidents. He took a special interest in transport questions on and around 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,...
. He proposed a resolution for a Circular Overbridge and for trams along the Embankment
Thames Embankment
The Thames Embankment is a major feat of 19th century civil engineering designed to reclaim marshy land next to the River Thames in central London. It consists of the Victoria and Chelsea Embankment....
. He was later instrumental in securing a Steamboats Bill and organised the first services. Gilbert was a member of the Port of London Authority
Port of London Authority
The Port of London Authority is a self-funding public trust established in 1908 by the Port of London Act to govern the Port of London. Its responsibility extends over the Tideway of the River Thames and the authority is responsible for the public right of navigation and for conservancy of the...
between 1913 and 1939 and chaired its River Committee from 1934-1939. He was the LCC representative on the Thames Conservancy
Thames Conservancy
The Thames Conservancy was a historical body responsible for the management of the River Thames in England. It was founded in 1857, initially replacing the jurisdiction of the City of London up to Staines and later taking responsibility for the whole river from Cricklade in Wiltshire to the sea at...
and was its chairman for the year 1937-38. He was a member of the River Wandle
River Wandle
The River Wandle is a river in south-east England. The names of the river and of Wandsworth are thought to have derived from the Old English "Wendlesworth" meaning "Wendle's Settlement". The river runs through southwest London and is about long...
Advisory Committee from 1928-35. He was also an early proponent for the new County Hall
County Hall, London
County Hall is a building in Lambeth, London, which was the headquarters of London County Council and later the Greater London Council . The building is on the bank of the River Thames, just north of Westminster Bridge, facing west toward the City of Westminster, and close to the Palace of...
building to be located overlooking the Thames near Westminster Bridge
Westminster Bridge
Westminster Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge over the River Thames between Westminster on the north side and Lambeth on the south side, in London, England....
. He served as the LCC nominee on the Council of Morley College
Morley College
Morley College is an adult education college in London, England. It was founded in the 1880s and has a student population of 10,806 adult students...
. Gilbert acquired the reputation of being a master of detail as a politician on the LCC and was an expert at asking questions to elicit information useful to his causes. He was said to have carried those skills into his Parliamentary career.
Liberal MP
Gilbert entered the House of Commons at a by-electionBy-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
in January 1916 in his home constituency and LCC seat of West Newington
Newington West (UK Parliament constituency)
Newington West was a parliamentary constituency in the Newington area of South London. 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 system.- History :...
. The sitting Member of Parliament (MP), Captain Cecil Norton
Cecil Norton, 1st Baron Rathcreedan
Cecil William Norton, 1st Baron Rathcreedan , was a British Liberal Party politician.Norton was the son of William Norton, Rector of Baltinglass, Ireland. He was elected to the House of Commons for Newington West in 1892, a seat he held until 1916, and served under Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman and...
, who had held the seat since 1892 was given a peerage
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
. The Unionist candidate, Warwick Brookes, decided to stand aside in the by-election under the terms of a truce between the political parties during the war and endorsed Gilbert’s candidacy. This left Gilbert a straight fight with independent candidate, J J Terrett and he won the contest easily by 2,646 votes to Terrett’s 787. Brookes’ decision to give way may have been influenced by the fact that he was soon after adopted as Coalition Unionist candidate for Mile End
Mile End (UK Parliament constituency)
Mile End was a parliamentary constituency centred on the Mile End district of the East End of London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
which he went on to win. Like its equivalent LCC seat, the West Newington Parliamentary constituency was renamed for 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...
. It became Central Southwark
Southwark Central (UK Parliament constituency)
Southwark Central was a borough constituency returning a single Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom through the first past the post voting system...
and Gilbert held it at the general elections of 1918, 1922
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...
and 1923
United Kingdom general election, 1923
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
, this time in a three-cornered contest, before losing to Labour in 1924
United Kingdom general election, 1924
- Seats summary :- References :* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* - External links :* * *...
, again in a three-cornered fight.
While in Parliament Gilbert served as a member of the Select Committee on Transport (1918) and was a member of the Select Committee on London Traffic (1919). He was Chairman of the Kennington Park
Kennington Park
Kennington Park is in Kennington in London, England, and lies between Kennington Park Road and St Agnes Place. It was opened in 1854. Previously the site had been Kennington Common. This is where the Chartists gathered for their biggest 'monster rally' on 10 April 1848...
Extension Committee (1921) which bought land that became the swimming pool, flower garden and children's playground and was a Trustee of the Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace was a cast-iron and glass building originally erected in Hyde Park, London, England, to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. More than 14,000 exhibitors from around the world gathered in the Palace's of exhibition space to display examples of the latest technology developed in...
. He was also a Chairman of Standing Committees of the House of Commons in 1923 and 1924. He was elected Chairman of the London Liberal MPs' Group in 1919, 1922 and 1924.
Travel
Gilbert travelled extensively in his public and private life. He visited India, Burma, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, Egypt, Morocco and Russia. During the First World War he went to the French and Belgian Battle Fronts. He was presented with vote of thanks (on vellum) by the British Red Cross Society and Order of St John of Jerusalem in 1918, for organising River Trips for Wounded Soldiers during the war.Publications
Gilbert published two books; Two and a Half Years’ Record of the Moderate Party, published by the London Reform Union, 1909 and The Record of the Second Moderate Council, London Reform Union, 1912Family
Gilbert was married twice. His first wife died in 1921 and he was remarried in 1926 to Jessie Bromley. He had a brother John Gilbert who was also a member of the London County Council but John sat on the Municipal Reform PartyMunicipal Reform Party
The Municipal Reform Party was a local party allied to the parliamentary Conservative Party in the County of London. The party contested elections to both the London County Council and metropolitan borough councils of the county from 1906 to 1945.-Formation:...
(or Conservative) benches. John Gilbert was a Roman Catholic but James was an agnostic. According to someone who knew them both, they never spoke to each other and were completely opposite in character.
Gilbert died in Stourbridge
Stourbridge
Stourbridge is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, in the West Midlands of England. Historically part of Worcestershire, Stourbridge was a centre of glass making, and today includes the suburbs of Amblecote, Lye, Norton, Oldswinford, Pedmore, Wollaston, Wollescote and Wordsley The...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located 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 Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
on 26 September 1941.