Bertram Straus

Bertram Straus
Bertram Straus

Bertram Stuart Straus (17 March 1867 – 26 August 1933) was a British businessman and Liberal Party politician.[1][2]

Background

Born in Manchester, he was the son of Henry S Straus of Sedgley Park, a merchant and vice consul for the Netherlands.[1][2][3] Following education at Harrow School he was articled to Hale & Sons, colonial brokers in the City of London.[4] The company specialised in the importation of ostrich feathers, ivory, rubber, mother of pearl, drugs, gums, spices, cocoa, mica, isinglass, fibres and carpets.[5] He subsequently became a partner in the business, from which he retired in 1898.[1][6] He was later chairman of Virol Limited, manufacturers of "Virol", a malt extract based vitamin preparation.[1][7]

Politics

Straus entered politics as a member of Marylebone Vestry, and was later elected as a Progressive Party Councillor to represent Mile End on the London County Council in 1898, and was re-elected in 1901 and 1904.[4][8][9][10]

At the 1895 general election Straus was chosen as the Liberal candidate to contest the constituency of Marylebone West, but failed to be elected.[1] At the next general election in 1900 he stood at Tower Hamlets, St George, narrowly failing to be elected.[4]

St George's in London County with boundaries used in 1900
General election 1900: Tower Hamlets, St. George[11] Electorate
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Thomas Dewar 1,437 55.7 +5.6
Liberal Bertram Straus 1,141 44.3 −5.6
Majority 296 11.4 +11.2
Turnout 3,518 73.3 −9.4
Conservative hold Swing +5.6

When the 1905 Mile End by-election was held at Mile End in 1905, Straus came close to winning the seat, losing to the Liberal Unionist candidate Harry Levy-Leveson by 78 votes.[1]

Mile End in London County with boundaries used 1905–1910
1905 Mile End by-election[11] Electorate 5,380
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist Harry Levy-Lawson 2,138 50.9 −14.7
Liberal Bertram Straus 2,060 49.1 +14.7
Majority 78 1.8 −29.4
Turnout 5,380 78.0 +15.1
Liberal Unionist hold Swing -14.7

When a general election was held in the following year, Straus again faced Levy-Lawson at Mile End and managed to unseat him to become member of parliament.[1]

General election 1906: Tower Hamlets, Mile End[11] Electorate 5,419
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Bertram Straus 2,295 51.4 +2.3
Liberal Unionist Harry Levy-Lawson 2,169 48.6 −2.3
Majority 126 2.8 4.6
Turnout 5,419 82.4 +4.4
Liberal gain from Liberal Unionist Swing +2.3

Straus was only to hold the seat for a single term, with Levy-Leveson regaining it at the next election in January 1910 by 57 votes.

General election January 1910: Tower Hamlets, Mile End[11] Electorate 5,464
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist Harry Levy-Lawson 2,332 50.6 +2.0
Liberal Bertram Straus 2,275 49.4 −2.0
Majority 57 1.2 4.0
Turnout 84.3 +1.9
Liberal Unionist gain from Liberal Swing +2.0

When a further election was held in December 1910, Straus and Levy-Lawson again faced each other, with Levy-Lawson holding the seat by only 6 votes.[1]

General election December 1910: Tower Hamlets, Mile End[11] Electorate 5,464
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Unionist Harry Levy-Lawson 2,176 50.1 −0.5
Liberal Bertram Straus 2,170 49.9 +0.5
Majority 6 0.2 −1.0
Turnout 79.5 −4.8
Liberal Unionist hold Swing -0.5

He did not stand for parliament again.

Straus never married and died at his home at Hyde Park Mansions in August 1933, aged 66.[2] He was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "STRAUS, Bertram Stuart". Who Was Who. Oxford University Press. December 2007. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  2. ^ a b c "Obituary: Mr. B. S. Straus". The Times. 29 August 1933. p. 13.
  3. ^ a b "Deaths". The Times. 29 August 1933. p. 1.
  4. ^ a b c "Biographies of New Members". The Times. 25 January 1906. p. 15.
  5. ^ "Hale and Son". Whitakers Red Book. 1914. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  6. ^ "No. 26976". The London Gazette. 10 June 1898. p. 8589.
  7. ^ "Virol, Limited". Straits Times. 29 September 1925. p. 2. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  8. ^ The London County Council Elections, The Times, 4 March 1898, p.10
  9. ^ London County Council Election, The Times, 4 March 1901, p.7
  10. ^ London County Council Election, The Times, 7 March 1904, p.12
  11. ^ a b c d e Craig, F.W.S. (1974). British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 (1 ed.). London: Macmillan.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Mile End
1906 – Jan 1910 		Succeeded by