Background
Ashton was born at Fallowfield, Manchester, Lancashire, the son of Thomas Ashton (died 1898) and Elizabeth Gair, daughter of Samuel Stillman Gair of Rhode Island.
Ashton was born at Fallowfield, Manchester, Lancashire, the son of Thomas Ashton (died 1898) and Elizabeth Gair, daughter of Samuel Stillman Gair of Rhode Island.
He was educated at Rugby and University College, Oxford, and later managed the family business.
The Ashton family had been prominent in the cotton and cloth manufacturing industry for many years. Ashton was elected to the House of Commons for Hyde in 1885, but lost his seat the following year. He unsuccessfully contested the same seat again in 1892, but in 1895 he was returned for Luton, seat he held until 1911.
The latter year he was raised to the peerage as Baron Ashton of Hyde, in the County of Chester.
During the First World War he served as Chairman of the Cotton Exports Committee. Apart from his political career Ashton was a Justice of the Peace for Cheshire and Sussex and was invested as an Honorary Fellow of Oxford University in 1923.
Two of Lord Ashton"s sisters married Lupton brothers. Sir Charles Lupton to Katharine and Arthur Lupton to Harriet.
The Lupton family are the paternal ancestors of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.
Thomas Henry Ashton (8 October 1887 – 20 September 1897)
Honorary Marion Evelyn Ashton (born 1890). Married Major Robert Wood.
Honorary
Margaret Joan Ashton (born 1893). Married Hugh Whistler. Thomas Henry Raymond Ashton (2 October 1901 – 21 March 1983).
Succeeded his father as 2nd Baron Ashton of Hyde.
He died in May 1933, aged 78, and was succeeded in the title by his second but eldest surviving son Thomas Henry Raymond Ashton. Lady Ashton of Hyde died in 1938.
23rd United Kingdom Parliament. 26th United Kingdom Parliament. 27th United Kingdom Parliament.
28th United Kingdom Parliament.