1184 James Williamson

Constituency : Lancaster  1886-95

James  took  Lancaster  from  the  Tories.

James  was  the  son  of  an  oilcloth  and  linoleum  exporter. He  was  educated  at  Lancaster  Royal  Grammar  School . He  worked  in  the  family  business. He  helped  his  father  create  Williamson  Park  in  Lancaster. He  served  on  Lancaster  town  council  for  a  number  of  years.

James  asked  just  a  couple  of  questions  on  imperial  matters  during  his  time  in  Parliament.

James  stood  down  in  1895, the  Liberals  failing  to  hold  his  seat. He  became  Baron  Ashton  that  year.

In  1907  James  built  the  Ashton  Memorial  in  Lancaster  in  memory  of  his  second  wife. He  also  gave  Lancaster  its  town  hall  and  the  bronze  statue  of  Victoria  in  its  square.

He  died  in  1930  aged  87  by  which  time  he  was  a  reclusive  eccentric  living  in  Lytham  St  Annes.