| London School Board Elections | |||
The second election to the School Board for London was held on Thursday, 27 November 1873.
The electorate included all ratepayers, including women, who were entitled to vote in vestry elections, and women could also be members.
The "Metropolis" or area of the Metropolitan Board of Works was divided into ten divisions for the election of school board members: each division returned between four and seven members depending on population.
The board had 49 seats: on the outgoing board there were 2 vacancies and 18 of the 47 sitting members did not seek re-election.
Each voter had a number of votes equal to the number of seats in the division. The voter was free to allocate the votes between the candidates in any way they wished. Where an elector gave all of his votes to a single candidate this was known as "plumping", and was seen as a way of ensuring representation of minority religious denominations. Voting was by secret ballot, with the exception of the City of London, where open voting was used.
Politics[]
The election was more hotly-contested than that held in 1870. On one side there were supporters of the majority group on the outgoing board. These supported the "Compromise of 1871" whereby new schools built by the board were non-denominational. Religious education included study of the bible, but in a manner that would allow children of all Christian denominations to attend classes.
In opposition to the "school board" candidates were those who sought to promote denominational schools. Prior to the formation of the board the few elementary schools that had existed belonged for the most part to various church organisations. A "Church Party", consisting of prominent Church of England clergyman and laymen sought to end the building of board schools on the grounds that it was a waste of ratepayer's money. The party was led by Canon Robert Gregory who was energetic in his attacks on the board, and a frequent letter writer in The Times. They advocated that schools should be voluntary (and denominational) and aided by state grant, not administered directly by the board.
There were also Roman Catholic and Non-Conformist candidates. In general, as small religious communities, they supported the school board policy, and stood in order that their co-religionists be represented on the body.
A number of candidates were "Secularist", seeking to exclude religious instruction from board schools.
There were also committees formed to allow for the representation of "Working Men".
In general the voluntary and Church candidates received the support of the Conservative Party organisation, while Non-Conformists and Working Men were aligned with the Liberal Party.
Results[]
Successful candidates are shown in bold type. Members of the outgoing board have an asterisk next to their name.
City of London (4 members)[]
| Candidate | Description and notes | Number of votes received |
|---|---|---|
| William Cotton* | Merchant, Alderman for Lime Street Ward. Church of England layman and supporter of School Board policy. |
5,819 |
| Canon Robert Gregory | Canon of St Paul's Cathedral. Leader of the Church Party. |
5,763 |
| Francis Peek | Tea dealer. Church Party. | 5,643 |
| Samuel Morley* | Warehouseman and Member of Parliament. "Dissenter" and supporter of School Board policy. |
5,242 |
| Sir John Bennett* | Watch and clockmaker. "Secularist". |
3,522 |
| William Sutton Gover* | Actuary. "Dissenter". |
3,432 |
| Charlotte Amy May Burbury | Widow. "Secularist". |
2,135 |
Chelsea (4 members)[]
Cromwell and Reade issued a joint address.
| Candidate | Description and notes | Number of votes received |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. John Hall Gladstone* | Fellow of the Royal Society, supporter of School Board policy | 15,472 |
| Robert Freeman* | Church Party | 15,118 |
| Reverend Canon John Gabriel Cromwell* | Principal of St Mark's College, Chelsea. Church Party. | 9,273 |
| Reverend Charles Darby Reade | Clerk in Holy Orders. Church Party. | 7,350 |
| Reverend Father Richard Gell Macmullan | Roman Catholic priest. In favour of Voluntary Schools. | 4,120 |
| Amelia Elizabeth Arnold | Wife of Arthur Arnold. Secularist. | 3,517 |
Finsbury (6 members)[]
In the Finsbury Division there were six candidates for six seats, so all were elected unopposed.
| Candidate | Description and notes |
|---|---|
| Edward James Tabrum* | Civil servant |
| Reverend John Rodgers * | Vicar of St Thomas, Charterhouse. |
| Thomas Chatfeild Clarke * | Architect |
| Benjamin Lucraft * | Cabinet maker. Working Men's candidate. |
| Charles Henry Lovell | Solicitor to the National Union of Elementary Teachers, nominated by the Finsbury District Teachers Association. |
| Reverend Robert Maguire | Vicar of St James, Clerkenwell. Independent, but in favour of Voluntary Schools. |
Greenwich (4 members)[]
| Candidate | Description and notes | Number of votes received |
|---|---|---|
| Hon. and Reverend Augustus Legge | Vicar of St. Bartholomew's, Sydenham. Church Party. | 19,764 |
| Henry Gover * | Solicitor. "Dissenter" and supporter of School Board policy. | 13,969 |
| John MacGregor * | Barrister. Church Party. | 13,766 |
| Reverend Benjamin Waugh * | Minister, "Dissenter", supporter of School Board policy. | 9,971 |
| Henry Broadhurst | Working Men's candidate. | 5,635 |
Hackney (5 members)[]
| Candidate | Description and notes | Number of votes received |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Bowman Stephenson | Founder and Principal of the Childrens' Home. "Nonconformist" and supporter of board's policy. |
19,003 |
| Richard Foster | Merchant, Church Party. | 15,620 |
| Joseph Green Pilkington | Vicar of St Mark's, Dalston. Church Party. | 15,578 |
| Reverend James Allanson Picton
* |
Independent Minister. | 14,240 |
| Charles Reed * | "Gentleman". In favour of board policy. | 14,239 |
| John Jones | Insurance Manager. | 13,297 |
| James Hiscutt Crossman * | Brewer. | 4,928 |
| William Sargent | Colonial Broker. | 1,391 |
Lambeth (5 members)[]
| Candidate | Description and notes | Number of votes received |
|---|---|---|
| Reverend Evan Daniel | Principal of the National Society's Training College for Schoolmasters, Battersea. Church Party. | 17,022 |
| William Frederick Morgan | Hop Merchant. Church Party. | 16,672 |
| Reverend George Mollett Murphy | "Independent Minister". Supported by the Liberal Party. | 12,669 |
| Thomas Edmund Heller | Former Headmaster of the Lambeth Parochial Schools. Church Party. | 14,690 |
| James Stiff * | Stoneware Manufacturer. Supported by the Liberal Party. | 11,988 |
| Hugh Wallace | Manufacturing Chemist. Supported by the Liberal Party. | 10,764 |
| Reverend Frederick Tugwell | Vicar of St Andrews. | 7,830 |
Marylebone (7 members)[]
| Candidate | Description and notes | Number of votes received |
|---|---|---|
| Arthur Mills | "Gentleman". Church Party. | 25,999 |
| William Josiah Irons | Rector of St Mary Woolnoth. Church Party. | 16,650 |
| Reverend Llewelyn David Bevan | Congregational Minister. Supporter of board's policy. Sponsored by the National Education League. | 14,890 |
| James Watson * | Publisher and Bookseller. Supporter of board's policy. | 14,849 |
| Jane Agnes Chessar | Teacher | 12,610 |
| John Harris Heal | Bedding Manufacturer. Church Party. | 9,468 |
| Alice Cowell | Barrister's Wife. | 9,335 |
| Dr Joseph Angus * | President of Regent's Park College. Supporter of the board's policy. | 7,833 |
| Llewellyn Mostyn | "Gentleman". Roman Catholic. | 7,456 |
| Thomas Richardson | "Gentleman". Independent. | 2,396 |
| Michael Maltman Barry | Bootmaker. Working Men's candidate. | 2,187 |
| Alfred Templeton Hawkins | Independent | 1,506 |
| Denis Joseph Rearden | Estate Agent and Surveyor. Roman Catholic. | 512 |
| John Sandford Dyason | "Gentleman". Independent. | 7,456 |
| William Griffiths | Barrister. | 165 |
Southwark (4 members)[]
| Candidate | Description and notes | Number of votes received |
|---|---|---|
| Reverend Robert Marshall Martin | Vicar of Christ Church, Bermondsey. Church Party. | 6,385 |
| Alfred Lafone * | Hide and Leather Factor. Church Party. | 4,397 |
| Reverend John Sinclair | Congregational Minister | 5,835 |
| James Wallace * | Roman Catholic candidate. | 3,791 |
| John Brouncker Ingle * | Attorney and Solicitor. | 4,920 |
| Alfred Side | Schoolmaster. Church Party. | 2,325 |
| William Joseph Haynes | Provision Merchant. Working Men's Candidate. | 1,750 |
Tower Hamlets (5 members)[]
The five sitting members issued a joint address. They were opposed by one new candidate, Joseph Bardsley, who was elected at the expense of William Pearce.
| Candidate | Description and notes | Number of votes received |
|---|---|---|
| Edmund Hay Currie * | "Gentleman". Church Party. Supported by the Mile End Land and Labour League. | 40,264 |
| Reverend Joseph Bardsley | Rector of Stepney. Church Party. | 22,517 |
| Edward North Buxton * | Brewer. In favour of school board policy. | 19,276 |
| Thomas Scrutton * | Ship owner. In favour of school board policy. | 14,875 |
| Arthur Langdale * | Solicitor. Roman Catholic candidate. | 14,454 |
| William Pearce * | Chemical manufacturer. In favour of school board policy. | 10,612 |
Westminster (5 members)[]
| Candidate | Description and notes | Number of votes received |
|---|---|---|
| William Henry Smith * | Member of Parliament. Church Party. | 8,498 |
| George Potter | Nominated by the Working Men's Association and Nonconformist Committee. | 8,114 |
| Reverend Dr. James Harrison Rigg * | Principal of the Wesleyan Training College. Church Party. | 6,433 |
| Francis Napier, Lord Napier and Ettrick | Church Party. | 6,032 |
| Reverend Canon Alfred Barry * | Clerk in Holy Orders. Principal of King's College London. Church Party. | 5,909 |
| George Taverner Miller | Merchant. Church Party. | 5,732 |
Byelections to 1876[]
The school board elected in 1873 had a three-year term of office. Where casual vacancies occurred these were filled by the holding of by-elections. There were two by-elections in the term of the second board.
Westminster (November 1875)[]
Resignation of Smith 21 November 1874.
The election was fixed for 29 November 1875. However, when nominations closed
| Candidate | Description and notes | Number of votes received |
|---|---|---|
| George Taverner Miller | Merchant. Church Party. | Unopposed |
Finsbury (29 November 1875)[]
Death of Tabrum 17 July 1875.
| Candidate | Description and notes | Number of votes received |
|---|---|---|
| Reverend Mark Wilks | Congregational Minister. | 3,511 |
| Lord Francis Hervey | Member of Parliament. | 2,734 |
| Joseph Surr | Silk Merchant. | 2,277 |
| T H Bolton | Solicitor. | 1,506 |
| William Bishop | Merchant. | 25 |
Unfilled vacancy at Marylebone[]
on 16 October 1872 John Harris Heal resigned his seat as a representative of Marylebone. No attempt was made to fill the vacancy.