1233 Edward Holden

Constituency : Walsall  1891-2

Edward  took  over  from  the  deceased  Sir  Charles  Forster  who  had  been  a  close  friend. He  won  by  539  votes.

Edward  was  the  son  of  a  tanner  and  currier  in  the  town. He  was  educated  privately  and  went into  his  father's  firm. He  was  on  Walsall  Borough  Council  for  over  60  years  and  mayor  three times  between  1870  and  1905. He  was  president  of  the  Walsall  Liberal  Association  when Forster  died  and  unanimously  adopted  to  succeed  him.

Edward  supported  Home  Rule, manhood  suffrage, elected  parish  councils  and  Sunday  closing of  pubs.  In  June  1892  he  accused  the  government  of  incompetence  in  failing  to  keep  France  to  the  terms  of  commercial  treaties.

Edward  was  defeated  in  1892  but  the  result  was  overturned  on  petition. Edward  declined  to  stand  again  so  Arthur  Hayter  took  the  seat.

Edward  was  knighted  in  1907.

He  died  in  1926  aged  95.