Arthur Walters Wills

Arthur Walters Wills (1868-17 November 1948), was a British Liberal Party politician.

Arthur Walters Wills
Member of Parliament
for North Dorset
In office
January 1905 – January 1910
Preceded byJohn Kenelm Digby Wingfield-Digby
Succeeded byRandolf Littlehales Baker
Personal details
Born
Arthur Walters Wills

1868
Died17 November 1948
NationalityBritish
Political partyLiberal
Spouse(s)Margery Eyre-Walker

Background

He was a son of George Wills of Moretonhampstead, Devon. He was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge. He married in 1908, Margery Eyre-Walker of Byfleet, Surrey. They had two sons and two daughters.[1]

He took honours in law in 1890. As a Barrister-at-law, he was called to Bar in 1894 and joined the Western Circuit.[1]

Political career

He sat as Liberal MP for Dorset North from January 1905 to January 1910. He was elected at the first time of asking at the North Dorset by-election in January 1905 when he gained the seat from the Conservatives.

1905 North Dorset by-election[2] Electorate 8,338
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Arthur Wills 4,239 56.0 +9.9
Conservative Randolph Baker 3,330 44.0 -9.9
Majority 12.0 19.8
Turnout 90.8
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +9.9

He held the seat a year later at the 1906 General Election.

General election January 1906[2] Electorate 8,490
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Arthur Wills 4,153 54.2 -1.8
Conservative Randolf Baker 3,508 45.8 +1.8
Majority 8.4 -3.6
Turnout 90.2 -0.6
Liberal hold Swing -1.8

He lost his seat back to the Conservatives at the January 1910 General Election. He failed to re-gain his seat at the general election 11 months later;

General election December 1910[3] Electorate 8,525
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Randolf Baker 3,919 50.2
Liberal Arthur Wills 3,887 49.8
Turnout 7,806 91.6
Majority 32 0.4
Conservative hold Swing

He did not stand for parliament again.[3]

Sources
  • Who Was Who
  • British parliamentary election results 1885–1918, Craig, F. W. S.

References
  1. Who Was Who
  2. British parliamentary election results 1885-1918 by Craig
  3. British parliamentary election results 1885-1918
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
John Kenelm Digby Wingfield-Digby		 Member of Parliament for North Dorset
January 1905 – January 1910		 Succeeded by
Randolf Littlehales Baker
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