Background
Christened in Worcester on 14 October 1799, he was the eldest son of Thomas Emmerson Laslett (1765-1816), a Worcester banker, and his wife Sophia Jenkins (-1836).
Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom
Christened in Worcester on 14 October 1799, he was the eldest son of Thomas Emmerson Laslett (1765-1816), a Worcester banker, and his wife Sophia Jenkins (-1836).
After initial training in a bank, he qualified as a solicitor and as a barrister and practised law in Worcester. His inheritance and his profits were largely invested in land and by 1829 he had acquired the manor and hall of Abberton, which was his residence for the rest of his life. He resigned from the House of Commons on 6 March 1860 through appointment as Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds.
He was again elected for the same constituency in 1868, but was defeated in the 1874 election.
With no immediate family and spending little on personal needs, Laslett gave much of his money in private and public charity. He financed restoration or rebuilding of several churches and bought Worcester"s old gaol, which he converted into housing for indigent married couples.
Charitable organisations he founded were still active in 2015. Living alone at Abberton Hall, Laslett died there in 1884.
His will was proved on 26 March 1884 with an estate for probate purposes of over 13,000 pounds (equal to about 123 million pounds in 2014).
15th United Kingdom Parliament. 16th United Kingdom Parliament. 17th United Kingdom Parliament.
18th United Kingdom Parliament.
20th United Kingdom Parliament]
Standing for the Liberal Party, he was elected unopposed as a Member of Parliament (Member of Parliament) for Worcester at a by-election in April 1852, and was re-elected at the subsequent general election and in 1857 and 1859.