Background
Holmes was born in Marylebone, Middlesex, the son of Horace G. Holmes, Justice of the Peace.
Holmes was born in Marylebone, Middlesex, the son of Horace G. Holmes, Justice of the Peace.
He was educated at the City of London School.
Holmes was a chartered accountant and company director The initially declared majority was only 5 votes, and an electoral petition was lodged. The petition was dismissed when a recount found a higher majority of 15.
Holmes then stood unsuccessfully in Dunbartonshire at the 1923 general election, and in Cheltenham at the 1924 election.
He finally returned to the House of Commons after a thirteen-year absence at the 1935 general election, when he was elected for Harwich as a Liberal National. He held the seat until 1954, sitting later as a "National Liberal and Conservative".
He introduced as Private Member"s Bills the Inheritance (Family Provision) Acting 1938 and the Coast Protection Acting 1939. On 18 January 1954 he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Dovercourt, of Harwich in the County of Essex.
31st United Kingdom Parliament. 36th United Kingdom Parliament. 37th United Kingdom Parliament.
38th United Kingdom Parliament.
39th United Kingdom Parliament. 40th United Kingdom Parliament]
He served as vice-president of the Building Societies Association and was a member of the London County Council 1910 to 1919.
He was elected Liberal Member of Parliament for North East Derbyshire at the 1918 general election, but narrowly lost the seat at the 1922 general election.