Constituency : City of York 1865-8, 1871-80
George ousted fellow Liberal Joshua Westhead.
George was a greengrocer's son from York who became a solicitor and then chairman of the York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway somewhat fortuitously after uncovering evidence of George Hudson's illegal share dealing. He encouraged the mergers which led to the North Eastern Railway and eventually became chairman. He also owned an iron mining company and had interests in the York Herald and banking.
George had a long political career in the city as councillor, alderman and three times Lord Mayor starting in 1836. He first stood for Parliament in 1852.
George spoke against Grosvenor's amendment in 1866 pointing out that the great increase in the national wealth was due to the emergence of a skilled workforce - and of course the railways. He also challenged the telegraph companies over their failure to properly account to Parliament but his warnings were not heeded.
George was defeated by Westhead in 1868 but returned at the by-election in 1871.
In 1880 his mining company failed . Less wealthy and in poor health, he resigned as chairman of the LNER and stood down at the election in favour of his son Joseph who was duly elected.
He died in 1882 aged 72. A statue of him stands outside York station.
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