Sir James Flower, 2nd Baronet

Sir James Flower, 2nd Baronet (14 December 1794 – 17 May 1850)[1] was a British Conservative Party[2] politician. He sat in the House of Commons from 1842 to 1846.

Early life

James Flower was the eldest child and only son of Anne (nee Squire) (d. 1803) and Sir Charles Flower, 1st Baronet, Lord Mayor of London from 1808 to 1809. He had six sisters Anne Mary Perceval (a noted botanist in Canada), Elizabeth, Caroline, Clarissa, Maria and Jemima.[3]

Career

Flower was High Sheriff of Norfolk from 1838 to 1839.[4]

In June 1841, he was asked by some of the electors in the borough of Thetford in Norfolk to contest the seat at the imminent general election.[5]

Nominations took place on 29 June, when Flower was nominated by Andrew Young and W. Watts Wickes.[6] A show of hands declared to be in favour of Flower and his fellow Conservative Bingham Baring, but the third candidate and sitting Liberal MP Earl of Euston demanded a poll. Voting took place the following day, on 30 June, and the result was that Flower and Euston tied for second place with 71 votes each. Amidst many challenges to the validity of votes, the mayor refused to exercise a casting vote, and returned the tied result;[6] all three candidates were declared elected to the two seats.[7] Flower submitted a petition.[8] When the votes were scrutinised, Euston's total was reduced by one, and on 4 May 1842 he was declared unduly elected, thereby giving the seat to Flower.[1]

Flower did not contest the seat at the next general election, in 1847.[2]

The Flower baronetcy became extinct on his death in 1850.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "T" (part 1)
  2. ^ a b Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1977]. British parliamentary election results 1832–1885 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 305. ISBN 0-900178-26-4.
  3. ^ a b Burke, John Bernard (1852). A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire. Colburn.
  4. ^ "No. 19586". The London Gazette. 1 February 1838. p. 232.
  5. ^ "Election Movements". The Times. London. 10 June 1841. p. 6, col A. Retrieved 27 December 2010. (subscription required)
  6. ^ a b "Extraordinary Express". The Times. London. 1 July 1841. p. 6, col E. Retrieved 27 December 2010. (subscription required)
  7. ^ "No. 20001". The London Gazette. 23 July 1841. p. 1926.
  8. ^ "News in Brief". The Times. London. 27 August 1841. p. 6, col C. Retrieved 27 December 2010. (subscription required)
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