Background
Bass was born at Burton, the elder son of Michael Thomas Bass and the great-grandson of William Bass, the founder of the brewery firm of Bass & Company in Burton. His mother was Eliza Jane, daughter of Samuel Arden.
Bass was born at Burton, the elder son of Michael Thomas Bass and the great-grandson of William Bass, the founder of the brewery firm of Bass & Company in Burton. His mother was Eliza Jane, daughter of Samuel Arden.
Bass was educated at Burton Grammar School, Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge.
He sat in the House of Commons from 1865 to 1888 when he was raised to the peerage as Baron Burton. He was a Director of the family firm of Bass, Ratcliff, Gretton and Company from 1863, and Chairman of the Directors upon his father’s death in 1884. As a brewer, it was uncomfortable to be a Liberal Member of Parliament as there was a strong temperance element to the Liberal party at the time.
Four years later, in 1886, he was raised to the peerage as Baron Burton, of Rangemore and of Burton-on-Trent in the County of Stafford, with remainder to heirs male.
Lord Burton married Harriett Georgina, daughter of Edward Thornewill, in 1869. He died in London in February 1909, aged 71.
Lady Burton died in 1931. The Bass family seat was at Rangemore.
King Edward VII visited Rangemore, the town and Bass Brewery in February 1902.
Like his father, Michael Arthur Bass was a generous benefactor to Burton, making many fine contributions to the town, including the Ferry Bridge, the Street Paul"s Institute and Liberal Club (now the Town Hall) and Street Chad’s Church. A bronze statue of Lord Burton, sculpted by F. West. Pomeroy, was erected in front of Burton Town Hall in 1911.
19th United Kingdom Parliament. 20th United Kingdom Parliament. 21st United Kingdom Parliament.
22nd United Kingdom Parliament]
He also sat as a Member of Parliament for Stafford from 1865 to 1868, for East Staffordshire from 1868 to 1885 and for Burton from 1885 to 1886.