Arthur Priestley

Priestley was born in Kensington, London, His father was a mill-owner in Bradford, and served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Pudsey from 1895 to 1900. His brother William was MP for Bradford East from 1906 to 1918. Arthur was educated privately, participating in sports ranging from pig-sticking in Patiala to crocodile-shooting on the White Nile. He also took part in many cricketing tours. == Politics ==

After the 1886 general election, he was asked by the Liberal association in Stamford to contest the seat against the sitting Conservative MP, John Compton Lawrance. He was in America at the time, but it was expected that he would accept the invitation; and first stood for Parliament himself at the Stamford by-election in 1890, after Lawrance resigned his seat in order to become a High Court judge. and took up residence in the constituency. His nomination was signed by farmers, tradesmen, and working men. Polling took place on 7 March, and when the votes were counted at the Corn Exchange in Bourne on Saturday 8 March, Priestley lost to the Conservative Henry Cust by a margin of 282 votes (3.4% of the total). with a majority of only 38 votes (1.4%). and held the Grantham seat until the 1918 general election, He was a Justice of the Peace (JP) for Grantham and for Lincolnshire, and served as Mayor of Grantham from 1914 to 1917. His residence was listed in 1918 as Hungerton Hall, Grantham. == Cricket ==

Priestley was not especially well known as a cricketer, although he was a member of the Marylebone Cricket Club (M.C.C.). He played some minor games for the club in 1891 and 1893 without much success. Early in 1895, he was a member of Slade Lucas's cricket team which toured the West Indies in 1894–95. In 1908 the touring Gentlemen of Philadelphia played a match against Grantham Cricket Club, when Priestley, then MP, played on the side of the Philadelphians. Also playing for Philadelphia were Bart King, Nelson Graves and John Lester, who scored a century. Priestley scored 14 but the match ended in a draw. == Death ==

Priestley died in Nice in April 1933, aged 68. He was unmarried. == References ==