Background
Gully was the son of Doctor James Manby Gully of Malvern, a successful physician who became involved in the mysterious death of Charles Bravo in April 1876.
Gully was the son of Doctor James Manby Gully of Malvern, a successful physician who became involved in the mysterious death of Charles Bravo in April 1876.
He was educated at University College School, London and then Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was president of the Union.
He served as Speaker of the House of Commons between 1895 and 1905. He was called to the bar by the Inner Temple in 1860, went the northern circuit, and took silk in 1877. In 1880 and 1883 Gully unsuccessfully contested Whitehaven as a Liberal, but was elected for Carlisle in 1886, and continued to represent that constituency until his elevation to the peerage.
In April 1895 he was elected Speaker by a majority of eleven votes over Sir Matthew White Ridley, the Unionist nominee.
The choice of Gully was a surprise to Lord Rosebery"s cabinet. Rosebery did not want a Unionist as the new Speaker of the House of Commons, but rejected the two alternatives of Richard Haldane and Sir Frank Lockwood.
Rosebery faced hostility in his cabinet from Sir William Vernon Harcourt and from the opposition, and Harcourt wanted the Liberal Unionist 'Leonard Courtney as Speaker. To Rosebery it became a minor cabinet crisis.
Finally in disgust Harcourt placed the onus of the decision on Rosebery.
Eventually the backbenchers of the Commons who knew Gully propelled him - most likely because he was close to Sir William Herschell. Harcourt was forced to produce the name to the House of Commons. The Conservatives were not happy about his selection, and (recalling the scandal that engulfed his father) would greet his appearance in the House with cries of "Bravo, Gully!".
Lord Selby married Elizabeth (d 1906), daughter of Thomas Selby, in 1865.
Harcourt viewed this as purely a matter for the House of Commons (Rosebery being in the House of Lords).
24th United Kingdom Parliament. 25th United Kingdom Parliament. 26th United Kingdom Parliament.
27th United Kingdom Parliament.