Thursday, 17 October 2013
293 William Seymour
Constituency : Sunderland 1852-55, Southampton 1859-65
William was a vicar's son from Ireland educated at Trinity College Dublin. He became a barrister. His father-in-law helped him get elected for Sunderland in 1852. He became chairman of the Waller Gold-mining Company in the same year and recorder of Newcastle in 1854. He was defeated in 1855. In the 1857 election he was unsuccessful at Hull. The following year he had to make an arrangement with his creditors which led to trouble with the Bar and he was censured.
In 1859 William was re-elected for Southampton through Conservative support secured by a promise not to vote against Derby's government. When his failure to honour the pledge was picked up by the Morning Herald he unsuccessfully tried to sue them. He had more joy suing the Law Magazine for its account of his previous legal difficulties, winning 40s.
In 1861 William was employed by the government in drawing up the Admiralty Reform Act.
William lost his seat in 1865 and never managed to get back in despite attempts at Nottingham (1869 and 1870) , Stockton (1880), and South Shields (1885). In 1889 he became judge of the county council circuit number 1.
He died in 1895 aged 72.
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