Sir James Duke, 1st Baronet facts for kids
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Sir James Duke, 1st Baronet (born 31 January 1792 – died 28 May 1873) was an important British politician. He was part of the Liberal Party, a major political group in the United Kingdom. Sir James Duke served as the Lord Mayor of London from 1848 to 1849. He was also a member of the House of Commons, which is a main part of the British Parliament, from 1837 to 1865.
Early Life and First Steps in Politics
Sir James Duke was born in a town called Montrose in Scotland. He began his political career by being elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) in 1837. An MP is someone chosen by voters to represent them in the House of Commons.
He represented the area of Boston in Lincolnshire. People voted for him again in the elections of 1841 and 1847, showing they trusted him to represent them.
Becoming Lord Mayor of London
In 1837, Sir James Duke was also chosen to be the Sheriff of the City of London. A Sheriff is an important official who helps with law and order in the city. On April 5 of that same year, he was given the special title of Knight.
Sir James became the Lord Mayor of London in 1847. This is a very important role, like being the head of the city government. While he was Lord Mayor, a spot opened up for an MP in the City of London area. This happened because another Liberal MP, James Pattison, passed away.
Many important Liberal leaders in the City of London met and decided that Sir James Duke would be a great choice for the job. They believed his experience in business and his time in the House of Commons made him perfect to represent the city. They asked him to run, and he quickly agreed.
Representing the City of London
To become an MP for the City of London, Sir James Duke had to leave his old seat in Boston. He did this by taking a special step called the Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, which is a way for an MP to officially resign.
In a special election on July 27, 1849, he was elected as the new MP for the City of London. He won by a large number of votes, getting more than twice as many as his only opponent, Lord John Manners, who was from the Conservative Party.
In October 1849, Sir James Duke was given another special honor: he was made a Baronet. This is a hereditary title, meaning it can be passed down in his family. Soon after, in November, he was asked to help investigate Smithfield Market, a famous market in London.
Sir James Duke continued to represent the City of London in Parliament until 1865, when he decided not to run for election again. Later, in 1872, he was appointed High Sheriff of Sussex, another important role in a different part of England.
