Edward Sartoris

Background

The eldest son of Urban Sartoris of Sceaux, near Paris and his wife Matilda née Tunno, Edward was born in London and educated at Trinity College, Cambridge.

Education

Trinity College.

Career

The family initially leased Knuston Hall near Irchester, Northamptonshire. The Welsh estate included large coal deposits. Foreign many years prior to 1868 elections had been uncontested, with both MPs being Conservatives.

The members were effectively chosen by the powerful Campbell family, Earls Cawdor.

The Second Reform Acting of 1867 had greatly increased the franchise, allowing large numbers of working class men to vote for the first time. This, along with difficulties in the Conservative Party over candidate selection, led the Carmarthenshire Liberals to decide to contest the 1868 general election.

As a relative newcomer to the area he benefitted from being seen as an "outsider", not subject to the traditional land owning interests. He was also based in the rapidly industrialising Llanelli district, the only part of the county where there was population growth.

With an efficient party machine, largely organised by non-conformist clergymen of the district, Sartoris secured a spectacular victory, his 3,280 votes easily winning the first seat in the constituency.

The Conservative Party learnt from their defeat, at the next election in 1874 Earl Cawdor"s eldest son, Viscount Emlyn, regained the seat from Sartoris. Sartoris retired to his Hampshire estate, Warnford Park, in 1874. He was a justice of the peace for the county, and an enthusiastic sportsman and yachtsman.

He died in Hampshire in November 1888 aged 74.

Achievements

• In 1878 his yacht May won the Hamble River Regatta.

Membership

20th United Kingdom Parliament]

The County of Carmarthenshire was represented in the House of Commons by two members of parliament. Rather than choosing a member of the landed gentry, the party chose Sartoris as their candidate.