George Melly (MP)

George Melly (20 August 1830 – 27 February 1894)[1] was an English merchant and shipowner and a Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1868 to 1875.

Melly in Arabian costume

Melly was the son of Andrew Melly and his wife Ellen Greg, daughter of Samuel Greg of Manchester. He was educated at Rugby School and became a merchant and shipowner. He was a member of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, and a director of the Union Marine Insurance Co. He was a J.P. for Liverpool and was major of the 4th Lancashire Artillery Volunteers from 1859 to March 1866. He authored a number of books and pamphlets.[2]

Melly stood unsuccessfully for Parliament at a by-election in April 1862 in Preston,[3] and in Stoke-upon-Trent at the 1865 general election.[4] Melly was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Stoke-upon-Trent at a by-election in February 1868 following the resignation of the Conservative MP Alexander Beresford Hope.[5] He was re-elected at the general election in November 1868,[6] and in 1874,[7] and held the seat until his resignation on 5 February 1875 by taking the Chiltern Hundreds.[8]

Melly died at the age of 63.

Melly married Sarah E. M. Bright, daughter of Samuel Bright, of Liverpool, in 1852.[2]

He was the ancestor of George Melly, the jazz singer and writer,[9] and Andrée Melly, the actress.