1143 Francis McLean

Constituency : Woodstock  1885-91

Francis  took  Woodstock  , ostensibly  from  the  Tories  but  the  name  of  a  borough  constituency  had  been  switched  to  a  county  one.

Francis  was  educated  at  Westminster  School  and  Cambridge  and  became  a  barrister.

Francis's  maiden  speech  opposed  an  attempt  by  the  Metropolitan  Board  of  Works  to  acquire  more  powers  over  water  supply. He  saw  it  as  an  attempt  by  the  MBW - "a  body  to  some  extent  moribund" to  get  new  powers  to  justify  its  existence.

Francis  went  over  to  the  Liberal  Unionists  after  making  a  long  speech  attacking  the  Home  Rule  Bill.

Francis  resigned  his  seat  in  1891  to  become  a  judge. From  1896  to  1909  he  was  Chief  Justice  of  Bengal. He  was knighted  in  1896. Also  whilst  in  India  he  chaired  famine  relief  committees  and  had  a  two  year  spell  as  Vice-Chancellor  of  Calcutta  University.

He  died  in  1913  aged  68.