John Benbow

Background

John Benbow was born in 1788.

Career

When the sitting Member of Parliament for Dudley, Thomas Hawkes resigned his seat in 1844, John Benbow, then a solicitor with the London firm, Messrs Benbow and Tucker, decided to stand as a Conservative. Mr. Benbow was known to the electors as he was the legal adviser to the trustees of Lord Ward (Lord Ward owned the ruins of Dudley Castle as well as being the owner of land and industries in the Dudley area). Benbow was subsequently re-elected in 1847 (unopposed) and 1852.

According to local chronicler C.F.G Clarke: Mr.

Benbow was a decided Tory in politics, and a churchman in religion. His school of thought was narrow and contracted, and he looked upon all reforms and progressions with alarm and distrust.

The same author wrote: he secured and maintained his seat as Member of Parliament for Dudley entirely on the sufferance of the Castle power and influence. According to Hansard, he never spoke in Parliament during the time he was Member of Parliament for Dudley.

Achievements

• He won his seat in 1844 and served until his death in 1855. John Benbow won the 1844 election defeating the liberal William Rawson. John Benbow died in 1855, whilst still Member of Parliament for Dudley, triggering a by-election that was won by Sir Stafford Northcote.