William Bromley-Davenport (1821–1884)

Bromley-Davenport was the son of Rev. Walter Davenport of Wootton Hall, Staffordshire and his first wife, Caroline Barbara Gooch, daughter of Archdeacon Gooch. His father adopted the additional surname Bromley in 1822. As Davenport-Bromley, William was educated at Harrow School and Christ Church, Oxford. He was a Lieutenant Colonel of the Staffordshire Yeomanry Cavalry and a Deputy Lieutenant and J.P. for Warwickshire and Staffordshire.[1]

In 1864 Davenport-Bromley was elected at a by-election as a Member of Parliament (MP) for North Warwickshire. In 1868 he changed his name by Royal Licence to Bromley-Davenport. He held the seat of North Warwickshire until his death at the age of 62 in 1884.[2]

He collapsed and died of a heart attack while seeking to quell disturbances in Lichfield caused by members of his Staffordshire Yeomanry Cavalry. They were on a training week under his command but indulged in riotous behaviour, including storming the stage in a performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's Princess Ida and blackening the face on the statue of Samuel Johnson.[3]

Bromley-Davenport married Augusta Elizabeth Campbell, daughter of Walter Campbell of Islay in 1858.[1] Their son William was a soldier and politician.

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by William Bromley-Davenport