Background
Cartwright was the eldest son of Lieutenant-General William Cartwright of Flore House, Weedon, Northamptonshire and his wife Mary Anne Jones, only daughter and heiress of Henry Jones.
Cartwright was the eldest son of Lieutenant-General William Cartwright of Flore House, Weedon, Northamptonshire and his wife Mary Anne Jones, only daughter and heiress of Henry Jones.
Christ Church.
He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford where he graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1844, and subsequently became a Fellow of All Souls. He served in the Austrian Army for a while, and was later major in the 2nd Hussars British German Legion which was raised for service in the Crimean War. He was a Justice of the Peace and a Deputy Lieutenant of Northamptonshire.
He was one of the most active campaigners for police superannuation.
20th United Kingdom Parliament. 21st United Kingdom Parliament. 22nd United Kingdom Parliament]
At the 1868 general election, Cartwright was elected as Member of Parliament (Member of Parliament) for South Northamptonshire and held the seat until his death in 1881, unmarried.