Born on 25 January 1829, Ellis was the fifth son of Joseph Ellis, owner of the Star and Garter Hotel in Richmond, Surrey, from 1830–1847 and lived in Byfleet for some years at Petersham House (built in High Road c 1859 and now a Lloyds Bank).
After a fire at Petersham House, Ellis organised Byfleet"s first fire brigade by equipping three of his gardeners with three lengths of hose and an ancient manual pump which was put on wheels and kept in a potting shed. In 1885, he funded the construction of the nearby Byfleet Fire Station to house a volunteer fire brigade. Initially the Parish Council managed this brigade and rented the building and a fire engine from Ellis.
The fire brigade was stationed there until 1963, latterly as part of the Surrey Fire Brigade.
The building survives relatively unaltered today and became a Grade 2 Listed building in 2008. Ellis was an Alderman of Broad Street Ward, London from 1872, Sheriff of London and Middlesex for 1874-1875 and Lord Mayor of London for 1881-1882.
On 6 June 1882 he was made a baronet, of Byfleet in the County of Surrey, and of Hertford Street, Mayfair, in the County of Middlesex, a title which became extinct on his death. He later became the Borough of Richmond"s first Mayor, and purchased the site for Richmond’s first town hall.
In 1895 a bust of Ellis was unveiled in the town hall by Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck and this is still displayed on the staircase there.
In 1899 he was appointed High Sheriff of Surrey for the year. He is also commemorated by a plaque in Street Peter’s North Chancel, the bust in Richmond Town Hall and nearby Whittaker Avenue in Richmond. John Whittaker Ellis married, in 1859, Mary Anne Staples, daughter of John Staples. was a prominent Mayoress both in London and in Richmond, and was identified with many charities in Surrey.
She was president of the Ladies´ Committee of the Royal Cambridge Asylum, and on the death of Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck in 1897 was appointed to succeed her as county president of the Surrey Needlework Guild.
She was also one of the presidents of the Soldiers" and Sailors" Families Association in Surrey, and took a prominent part in the establishment of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. She died at Buccleuch House, Richmond, Surrey, on 18 December 1901.
22nd United Kingdom Parliament. 23rd United Kingdom Parliament. 24th United Kingdom Parliament]
He was elected as Member of Parliament for Mid Surrey at a by-election in 1884, and when that constituency was abolished for the 1885 general election, he was returned for the new Kingston constituency.
