1211 Mark Beaufoy

Constituency  : Kennington  1889-95

Mark  became  the  first  Liberal  victor  in  the  London  borough  of  Kennington.

Mark  was  from  a  military  family  and  was  educated  at  Eton  and  Cambridge. The  family  were also   established  in  business  as  vinegar  manufacturers. He  was  an  Anglican  who  in  1881 chaired  the  meeting  that  founded  the  Children's  Society. He  played  in  the 1879 FA  Cup  Final for  Old  Etonians  when  they  beat  Clapham  Rovers  1-0.  H  contested  Kennington  in  1886  falling  430  votes  short.  

Mark  supported  the  eight  hour  day  and  introduced  it  in  his  own  plant  at  Lambeth. He  was generally  opposed  to  temperance  causes.

In  1895 Mark  was  defeated, his  cause  not  helped  by  a  challenge  from  an  Independent  Liberal.

Mark  was  a  keen  shot  and  in  1902  composed  some  verses  on  gun  safety  for  his  son  which  rapidly  became  popular  as  A  Father's  Advice   although  their  author  was  not  always  credited. He  was  also  keen  on  dogs  and  became  chairman  of  the  Kennel  Club  in  his  last  years.

He  died  in  1922  aged  68.