Sir William Cuthbert Quilter, 1st Baronet was an English stock broker, art collector and Liberal/Liberal Unionist politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1906.
Background
Quilter was born at Finsbury, the son of William Quilter and his wife Elizabeth Harriet Cuthbert. His father was a prominent accountant with the firm of Quilter, Ball & Company and was instrumental in the foundation of the Institute of Accountants.
Education
Quilter was educated privately.
Career
He became a stockbroker and was eventually head the firm of Quilter Balfour & Company He was an art collector, and one of the founders of the National Telephone Company. In 1886 he introduced a bill "for better securing the Purity of Beer".
He held the seat until 1906.
Quilter built Bawdsey Manor in 1886 and established a steam powered chain ferry (Bawdsey Ferry) in 1894 to cross the River Deben and provide access to Felixstowe railway station which ran until 1931. He enlarged the manor house in 1895.
He also owned Hintlesham Hall. Quilter was created a baronet on 13 September 1897.
Quilter married Mary Ann Bevington in 1867.
Their eldest son Cuthbert succeeded to the baronetcy and was also Member of Parliament for Sudbury. Another son Roger Quilter was a composer. Quilter"s brother Harry was an eminent art critic.
Quilter died at the age of 70.
Membership
23rd United Kingdom Parliament. 24th United Kingdom Parliament. 25th United Kingdom Parliament.
26th United Kingdom Parliament.
27th United Kingdom Parliament]
He was commodore of the Royal Harwich Yacht Club and a member of the council of the Yacht Racing Association. In the 1885 general election, Quilter was elected Member of Parliament for Sudbury as a Liberal, and was returned in 1886 as a Liberal Unionist.