Constituency : Crewe 1918-22
Sir Joseph won Crewe as a Coalition Liberal having received the coupon despite it being a Unionist-held seat .He defeated Labour in a straight fight.
Joseph was educated at Bristol Grammar School. He began his working life at Cardiff Docks but his flair for statistics led him to a partnership forming investment trusts. He built up interests in mining, oil and railways. He caught Lloyd George's attention while organising charity relief in Wales and was invited to join his secretariat, the "Garden Suburb". He had already been adopted as Liberal candidate for Crewe but when Thomas Roe resigned at Derby in December 1916 Joseph was touted as a replacement. The Liberal headquarters immediately vetoed this given Joseph's association with Lloyd George and Asquith's personal secretary went to Derby to enforce the ruling. Joseph went on a War Cabinet delegation to the U.S. in 1917. Joseph was knighted in 1918.
In 1922 a local pact in Cheshire ensured there was no Conservative opposition to Joseph in Crewe but he was still defeated by former Liberal Edward Hemmerde by 555 votes.
Joseph concentrated on business after his defeat. He was also keen on tennis and golf.
He died in 1954 aged 87.
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