John Deans Hope M.P. (1860 - 1949)

Born 8 May 1860 in Duddingston, Midlothian, Scotland, United Kingdom

Husband of Elizabeth Kerr (Holms-Kerr) Hope — married 29 Mar 1899 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Died 13 Dec 1949 at age 89 in Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland, United Kingdom

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Biography

John was born on 8 May 1860 in Duddingston, Midlothian. He was the son of James Hope, a farmer, and Isabella Frances Deans. ^[1] In the 1861 census the family were living at Duddingston Farm on the estate. ^[2] and John remains there for the next 20 years, ^[3] training to be an accountant. ^[4] From the mid 1880s John is living in Edinburgh at 91 George Street and has offices at 16a Princes Street initially as an accountant but latterly as a stockbroker. ^[5]

In 1891 census he is shown at one of his father's other estates at East Barns, Dunbar, East Lothian, listed as a stockbroker. ^[6] At the same time, he is still maintaining his property in Edinburgh.

In 1897, his younger brother Harry married Margaret Holms-Kerr and 2 years later, John married Margaret's younger sister Elizabeth at the Park Church, Glasgow. ^[7]

Hope & Holms-Kerr wedding 1899

In 1900, John successfully contested the seat of Fifeshire West in Parliament and became an M.P. ^[8] and served the constituency for 10 years.

The young couple initially set up home at Ashfield House, Dunbar, East Lothian where they were shown in the 1901 census with a son, William. ^[9] A daughter Margaret Lois followed 2 years later. ^[10] They remained at Ashfield House until 1905 at least but by 1908, the family are living at Bellevue, Haddington, East Lothian and it is here in 1910 that Elizabeth hosts a meeting of the suffragette movement, showing her affiliation with the cause. Her husband had been the elected MP for West Fife since 1900. ^[11]

In 1911, John was elected as member of parliament for East Lothian in a by-election ^[12] and in 1919 he won the seat at Berwickshire, ^[13] but lost the vote in 1922. In all his time in parliament, he served on many commissions there but was noted for the fact that in all the time he served in parliament, he never once made a speech in the house and was known as the "silent M.P." ^[14]

He died on 13 Dec 1949 at his home, Bellevue, Haddington, East Lothian ^[15]

Death of Mr John D Hope

Sources

1. ↑ "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQFH-D91 : 12 February 2020), John Deans Hope, 1860.
2. ↑ 1861 Census of Scotland. Parish: Duddingston; ED: 2; Page: 7; Line: 2; Roll: CSSCT1861_123
3. ↑ 1871 Census of Scotland. Parish: Duddingston; ED: 2; Page: 8; Line: 23; Roll: CSSCT1871_155
4. ↑ 1881 Census of Scotland. Parish: Duddingston; ED: 2; Page: 19; Line: 10; Roll: cssct1881_278
5. ↑ Edinburgh City Archives; Edinburgh, Scotland; Register of Voters For the City of Edinburgh and the Burgh of Leith; Reference: Sl56/36, Sl56/66
6. ↑ 1891 Census of Scotland. Parish: Dunbar; ED: 12; Page: 1; Line: 7; Roll: CSSCT1891_371
7. ↑ 1899. KERR, ELIZABETH KERR / HOPE, JOHN D (Statutory registers - Marriages 644/9 140-Kelvin)
8. ↑ 16/10/1900. London Evening Standard - Tuesday 16 October 1900. Page 2
9. ↑ 1901 Census of Scotland. Parish: Dunbar; ED: 8; Page: 17; Line: 5; Roll: CSSCT1901_407
10. ↑ 1903 HOPE, MARGARET LOIS F (Statutory registers - Births 685/1 726-St George)
11. ↑ 20/01/1910. Common Cause - Thursday 20 January 1910. Page 8
12. ↑ 21/04/1911. Evening Mail - Friday 21 April 1911. Page 5.
13. ↑ Berwickshire News and General Advertiser - Tuesday 07 January 1919
14. ↑ 05/07/1922. Cornishman - Wednesday 05 July 1922. Page 6
15. ↑ 14/12/1949. The Times (London, England). Wednesday, Dec. 14, 1949. Page 1