Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-17
THE HOUSE FATHER
Death of The Right Honorable
Charles Pelham Villiers,
He Had Sat in the House of Commons
Since 1e35-Known Also As
Father Of English Bar

London, Jam 16.-The Right Hon
Charles Pelham Villiers, NJ. p, for
South Wolverhampton, and known as
the father of the house Of commons, +"
having sat continuously in the house
since 1885, died at O'Clock tonight. In
addition to being the oldest member of
the house of commons, he was father of
the English bar, for he was "called' at
Lincoln's Inn in 1927.
Mr.. Gladstone, seven years the Junior
OF Mr.. Vlliers entered parliament two
years before him, but while the service
OF Mr.. Villiers had been continuous that
OF Mr.. Gladstone was broken when he
retired from the house of commons.
MI Nrll1ers was returned for Wolver-
hampton three years after the passing
VI Iile great reform act. and the last
parliament of William w.
Besides being the oldest member Of
parliament Mr. Villiers was the oldest
surviving parliamentary candidate. It
was IN 1926, when George w was king
ana Victoria was young child, that he
traVeiled down to Yorkshire from Lon
oon and contested KIingston-upon- Hun
under the reform banner of Canning.
thoug,h unsuccessfully. After his return
Tor Wolverhampto he identified himself
Wlcn the liberal movement. and in 1852
was appointed judge advocate general.
subsequently he was presldenr Of tho
poor law board, and he became MON
Der or Lord PalmerStonis second adui-
nlstrat1on in 1859. AS an independent
hperlal he was one of the most able and
eloquent leaders Of the anti-corn law
agitation, and TO the triumph of the
cause ms earnest speeches and persis-
tent motions in parliament contributed
IN the session of 1865 Mr.. Villiers intro
uuced very important measure in CON
hecuon with the poor law administra-
Slon' the union chargeabllity bill which
oecaIle law In 1873 his constituents
statue OF MI Villiers, when speeches in
eulosy OF his public services in connec-
tlon with the anti-corn law movement
were delivered by Earl Granville and
Sir Robert Peel
Notwithstanding his extremely ad
yanced age, Mr. Villiers memory was
slngularly retentive, and he was able to
entertain his friends for hours at a time
with "reminiscences of lively scenes in
the mouse OF commons during the first
| half OF the century. Canning had passed
away years before Mr. VilHers en-
tered parliament, but the two often met
/ as Canning was bosom friend of the
uncle of Mr.. Villiers The latter often
| went to the house to hear Canning
| speak, and he described him as won
derful orator.
With Golden and Bright Mr. Villiers
was intimately associated in the anti
corn laws agitation. and he is always
described as one of the triumvirate that
brought about the repeal.
Among the famous personalities Mr..
Villiers could recall and wildly portray
were the great Sir Robert Peel, Lord
Melbourne, Russell, Derby, Aberdeen,
Brougham, the Duke of Wellington
Daniel O'Connell, Hume, Grote and Dis
raeli. He always delighted to recall the
circumstance that he was in the house
when Disraeli made the celebrated
speech in which he said that one day
the house would be compelled to listen
to him.
Mr. Villiers was the third son of the
Hon. George Villiers, son of the first
Earl of Clarendon. by the only daughter
of the first Lord Boringdon. According
to Men and Women of the Time" he
was born Jan 10. 1902, but this date APP
pears to be inaccurate fer the London
papers of Jan. say that on the previous
day Mr.. Villiers celebrated his ninety
sixth birthday. receiving large number
Of friends, and congratulatory messages
from all parts of the kingdom.