Edward John Hutchins (27 December 1809 in Briton Ferry, Glamorganshire – 11 February 1876 in Hastings) was a Liberal MP, railway director and Freemason.
Birth and education Hutchins was the son of Edward Hutchins of Gloucester and his wife, Sarah Guest, a sister of the MP and ironfounder Sir Josiah John Guest. He was educated at Charterhouse School and St John's College, Cambridge.
In Parliament
Hutchins was elected as an MP for Penryn and Falmouth in January 1840 with a majority of 221 and sat until the general election of 1841. His opponent was the Conservative, Mr Carne, who polled 238 votes.1840 Falmouth & Penryn Election result The Times, 27 January 1840, issue 17264, p.5, Column C
At the 1841 general election, he unsuccessfully contested Southampton; and although his opponents were subsequently unseated on petition, he did not obtain the seat.
He was unsuccessful once again in July 1847 when he attempted to become the member for Poole.
Finally he was returned for Lymington at a by-election, in April 1850. He held the seat until his retirement from Parliament in 1857.
In 1870, he was part of a Catholic Lobby group concerning the Education Bill.The Times, Tuesday, 14 June 1870; p.5; Issue 26776; col A: The Education Bill. Meeting Of Catholics At Norfolk-House. He was a member of the London School Board representing Marylebone from 1870 - 1873.
Civic duties
He was a magistrate and deputy-lieutenant for Glamorganshire, and a magistrate for Brecon and Monmouthshire.
Business interests
After Cambridge, Hutchins joined his uncle, Sir John Josiah Guest, running the family business, the Dowlais Iron Works. In 1851, Hutchins became the Chairman of the Rhymney Iron Works, holding the chairmanship until 1875.Illustrated history of the Loyal Cambrian Lodge 1810-1914 by James Fraser (1914)pp.67-68, available online at Internet archive
Also in 1875, he resigned as a director of the London and South Western Railway,Advertisement of a General Meeting of shareholders of the L&SW Railway to appoint a new Director in The Times, 18 September 1875, issue 28424, p.5, Column B having served for several years.
He was chairman of the Taff Valley Wagon Company.The Times, Friday, 20 August 1858; p.5; Issue 23077; col D: Railway Intelligence: Taff Valley Wagon Company half-year meeting and The Times, Wednesday 23 February 1859; p. 10; Issue 23237; col E: Railway Intelligence: Taff Valley Wagon Company half-year meetingThe Times, Thursday, 28 August 1873; p. 6; Issue 27780; col C: Railway and Other Companies - Taff Valley Wagon Company half-year meeting
Marriage On 10 October 1838, in Baltimore, Maryland he married Isabel Clara,"Maryland, Marriages, 1666-1970," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F4J4-54D : accessed 29 March 2012), Edward John Hutchins (1838). daughter of the Chevalier Don Juan de Bernaben, of Alicante, in Spain, who survived him.
Masonic role He was Provincial Grand Master of South Wales from 1848 to 1856
Death He died after a lingering illness in Hastings.
References This article incorporates text from The Times, 19 February 1876, issue 28557, p. 7, Column D, a publication now in the public domain in the United States.
External links