John Aldridge (British politician) explained

John Aldridge
Office:Member of Parliament
for Horsham
Term Start:18 November 1868
Term End:3 May 1869
Alongside:Robert Henry Hurst
Predecessor:Robert Henry Hurst
Successor:Robert Henry Hurst
Birth Date:4 January 1832
Restingplace:Lower Beeding, Sussex, UK
Nationality:British
Party:Conservative
Parents:Robert Aldridge
Caroline Beauclerk

Lieutenant-Colonel John Aldridge (4 January 1832 – 23 February 1888) was a British soldier, Conservative Party politician, and landowner in Sussex.

Family

Aldridge was the son of Robert Aldridge and Caroline Anne, daughter of Charles George Beauclerk. He was married in 1863 to Mary Alethea, daughter of Samuel Matthews, and together they had five children:

Military career

Aldridge served in the Royal Scots Fusiliers, rising to the rank of Captain in the regiment on 29 December 1854 and Brevet Major in the army on 6 June 1856. After his brief political career he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant of the part-time Royal Sussex Light Infantry Militia (later the 3rd and 4th battalions of Royal Sussex Regiment) on 27 October 1875.[1]

Political career

He was elected MP for Horsham in 1868 alongside Robert Henry Hurst. This was unusual as the seat was only eligible to send one member. Although both candidates were declared elected, petitions were lodged against them both, and on 3 May 1869 Aldridge withdrew his claim to entitlement to the seat, leaving Hurst as the sole MP.[2]

St Leonard's House

Aldridge inherited the St Leonard's Forest estate, near Horsham, from his father, Robert Aldridge, in 1871. After 1878, he began selling land from the estate, perhaps due to the agricultural recession. Upon his death in 1888, the estate passed to his son, Robert Beauclerk Aldridge.[3]

Other activities

He was also a Justice of the Peace and a Deputy Lieutenant for Sussex.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Army List, various dates.
  2. Book: Craig. F. W. S.. F. W. S. Craig. British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885. 1977. Macmillan Press. London. 978-1-349-02349-3. 1st. e-book.
  3. Web site: Kingsley. Nick. (74) Aldridge of St. Leonard's House and Inholmes. Landed families of Britain and Ireland. 18 February 2018. 17 September 2013.