Peter Griggs Explained

Sir William Peter Griggs
Honorific-Suffix:MP
Constituency Mp1:Ilford
Parliament1:United Kingdom
Successor1:Fredric Wise
Term Start1:14 December 1918
Term End1:11 August 1920
Birth Date:1 November 1849
Birth Place:Bethnal Green, London, England
Death Place:Ilford, London, England
Nationality:British
Spouse:Georgina
Party:Coalition Conservative
Residence:Ilford
Occupation:Lighterman then builder and developer

Sir William Peter Griggs (1 November 1849 – 11 August 1920) was an English Member of Parliament for Ilford in north-east London.

Early life

Born at 123 Brick Lane in Bethnal Green, London, Griggs was 7 when his father died. He saved enough money to buy a barge which he operated along the Thames. Griggs was later involved in real estate development in Ilford and Upminster.

Politics

Griggs entered local politics in 1899 when he was elected to Ilford District Council, becoming the chairman in 1910. Since 1901, he had also been an Alderman of Essex County Council. Griggs stood for Parliament in 1910 in the Romford constituency but failed to win the seat. Griggs was successful at his next attempt during the 1918 General Election for the newly formed Ilford constituency with a majority of 11,249. He was knighted in 1916.

In 1920, he died at his home in Ilford after a long illness. This created a by-election which was won by fellow Coalition Conservative Fredric Wise. There is a memorial window dedicated by his widow, Lady Georgina (Spriggs) at Trinity United Reformed Church, Upminster.