Career
Atkinson was Mayor of Hull twice, in 1864 and 1865. That constituency was abolished under the Redistribution of Seats Acting 1885, and at the 1885 general election he stood in the new Brigg division of Lincolnshire, but lost to his Liberal opponent, taking only 35% of the votes. At the 1886 general election he stood in Boston, winning the seat by a narrow majority of 48 votes (2%) from the sitting Liberal Member of Parliament William Ingram.
In 1891 he assumed the name of Farmer-Atkinson.
Farmer-Atkinson died at his home, Woodcote Place near Epsom, Surrey, on 3 March 1913.