John Henry Bethell, 1st Baron Bethell (23 September 1861 – 27 May 1945), known as Sir John Bethell, 1st Baronet, from 1911 to 1922, was a British banker and Liberal politician.
Early life
Bethell was the son of George Bethell and his wife Frances (née Tipper), and was educated at King's College London. His younger brother was Sir Thomas Bethell (1867–1957).
Career
He was a Director of Barclays Bank and of the Royal Exchange Assurance Corporation and also served twice as Mayor of East Ham and twice of West Ham.
In November 1902, Bethell was adopted as the Liberal party candidate for Romford, and he was elected to the House of Commons from that constituency in the following election in 1906. He held this seat until 1918, and then represented East Ham North between 1918 and 1922. He was created a Baronet, of Romford in the County of Essex, in 1911 and in 1922 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Bethell, of Romford in the County of Essex.
Personal life
Lord Bethell married Florence, daughter of James Woolley Wyles, in 1895. They had three sons and three daughters:
- 2nd Lt. Frank Harry Bethell (18 May 1896 – † 25 September 1915), enlisted with the 3rd Battalion of the Connaught Rangers in September 1914 and joined the British Expeditionary Force in March 1915. Killed in action at the Battle of Loos.
- Dorothy Frances Bethell (17 July 1897 – 4 October 1976) married Col. Ian Ferguson MacAlpine
- Grace Bethell (3 November 1901 – 9 October 1982), married firstly Frederick Joseph Parsons, secondly Henry Seton Middleditch
- John Raymond Bethell, 2nd Baron Bethell (23 October 1902 – 30 September 1965), married Veronica Connolly
- Guy Anthony John Bethell, 3rd Baron Bethell (1928–1967)
- William Gladstone Bethell (11 April 1904 – 17 October 1964), married Ann Margaret Frances Thornycroft
- Nicholas William Bethell, 4th Baron Bethell (1938–2007)
- Phyllis Kathleen Bethell (19 December 1908 – 21 June 1955), married Clive Harrison Martyn
Lord Bethell died in a London nursing home, aged 83, and was succeeded in his titles by his second son, John. Lady Bethell died in 1957.
References
- ^ Mosley, Charles, ed. (2003). Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knighthood (107 ed.). Burke's Peerage & Gentry. pp. 366–367. ISBN 0-9711966-2-1.
- ^ "Obituary: Lord Bethell". The Times. 29 May 1945. p. 6.
- "Election intelligence". The Times. No. 36923. London. 12 November 1902. p. 10.
- "John Raymond Bethell, 2nd Baron Bethell (1902-1965), Director of Gillett". National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- "Veronica Eileen (née Connolly), Lady Bethell (died 1981), Wife of 2nd Baron Bethell; daughter of Sir James Connolly". National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
External links
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byLouis Sinclair | Member of Parliament for Romford 1906–1918 |
Succeeded byAlbert Edward Martin |
| New constituency | Member of Parliament for East Ham North 1918–1922 |
Succeeded byCharles Crook |
| Peerage of the United Kingdom | ||
| New creation | Baron Bethell 1922–1945 |
Succeeded byJohn Raymond Bethell |
| Baronetage of the United Kingdom | ||
| New creation | Baronet (of Romford) 1911–1945 |
Succeeded byJohn Raymond Bethell |