# Edward Leatham

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**Edward Aldam Leatham** (2 August 1828 – 6 February 1900) was an English academic and [Liberal Party](/source/Liberal_Party_(UK)) politician, [Member of Parliament](/source/Member_of_Parliament_(United_Kingdom)) for [Huddersfield](/source/Huddersfield_(UK_Parliament_constituency)).

## Background and early life

Leatham was the son of banker [William Leatham](/source/William_Leatham_(banker)) of Heath near [Wakefield](/source/Wakefield), by his wife Margaret Walker, daughter and heiress of Joshua Walker, of [York](/source/York). The family was part of an influential [Quaker](/source/Quaker) community in Yorkshire, one of which had been imprisoned for her religious views.[1][2] His brother [William Henry Leatham](/source/William_Henry_Leatham) was MP for [Wakefield](/source/Wakefield_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) and [Southern West Riding](/source/Southern_West_Riding_of_Yorkshire_(UK_Parliament_constituency)), and his sister Margaret Elizabeth Leatham married the liberal statesman [John Bright](/source/John_Bright). He was educated at [University College London](/source/University_College_London), graduating BA in 1848 and MA in 1851 with a distinction which led to his election as a [Fellow](/source/Fellow) of the college.[1][3]

## Political career

Leatham was narrowly elected MP for [Huddersfield](/source/Huddersfield_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) at the [1859](/source/1859_United_Kingdom_general_election) General Election, winning the representation from Edward Akroyd, "whose Liberalism was of a more Whiggish type"[1] and there was an attempt to unseat him. His victory was celebrated at a banquet at which [John Bright](/source/John_Bright), [Richard Cobden](/source/Richard_Cobden), Frank Crossley, Baines and others were present.[1] In 1861 he instituted the Huddersfield College Prize Medals for history and English declamation which were awarded for the two subjects in alternate years.[4]

In July 1865 he was defeated by [Colonel Crosland](/source/Thomas_Crosland) who died in 1868 and Leatham won the ensuing by-election with a large majority over [William Campbell Sleigh](/source/William_Campbell_Sleigh).[1] He held the seat until his retirement in 1886. He supported disestablishment of the Church, undenominational education and was opposed to Home Rule.[1]

In 1875, he acquired an estate at [Miserden](/source/Miserden), [Gloucestershire](/source/Gloucestershire).[5] He was a [justice of the peace](/source/Justice_of_the_peace) and [deputy lieutenant](/source/Deputy_lieutenant) for the [West Riding of Yorkshire](/source/West_Riding_of_Yorkshire), and later a deputy lieutenant for [Gloucestershire](/source/Gloucestershire), of which county he was [high sheriff](/source/High_Sheriff_of_Gloucestershire) in 1891.[6]

He was a scholar and published a historical romance *Charmione: A Tale of the Great Athenian Revolution* in 1858. His politics was heavily influenced by his brother-in-law Bright's ideas. For example, Leatham introduced the bill that would become the [Ballot Act 1872](/source/Ballot_Act_1872).[7][8]

Leatham died at his residence at Miserden, on 6 February 1900 aged 71.[3]

## Family

Leatham was twice married. He first married a sister of Bright, Mary Jane Fowler of Melksham in 1851. Following her death, he married a daughter of Rev. John Constable, and she survived him. His eldest son was Arthur William Leatham.[3] By his first wife, Leatham had four sons and four daughters; by the second, four sons and three daughters.[9]

## References

1. "Memorial Notices". *The Manchester Guardian*. 9 February 1900. p. 3.

1. [Richard Vickerman Taylor *Biographical Sketches of the Worthies of Leeds* 1865](https://archive.org/stream/biographialeodie00tayl)

1. "Obituary – Edward Aldam Leatham". No. 36060. 8 February 1900. p. 6.

1. [Huddersfield and District History](http://homepage.eircom.net/~lawedd/MEDAL%20HISTORY%20ENGLISH.htm)

1. [*Miserden: Manors and other estates*, A History of the County of Gloucester: Volume 11: Bisley and Longtree Hundreds (1976), pp. 49-52. Date accessed: 2 March 2009](http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=19034)

1. No. 26146. 24 March 1891. p. 1653.

1. [LEAVE. FIRST READING. House of Commons Debates, MR. LEATHAM](https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1870/feb/14/leave-first-reading), 14 February 1870 vol 199 cc268-84 § 268

1. [SECOND READING. House of Commons Debate, MR. LEATHAM](https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1870/mar/16/second-reading), 16 March 1870 vol 200 cc10-60 § 10

1. Foster, Joseph (1874). [*Pedigrees of the county families of Yorkshire*](https://archive.org/details/pedigreesofcount01fost/page/n229/mode/2up). London: Printed and published by the compiler by W. Wilfred Head. p. 229.

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