Arthur Walters Wills

Arthur Walters Wills BA, LLB (1868-17 November 1948), was a British Liberal Party politician.

Background

He was a son of George Wills of Moretonhampstead, Devon. He was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge. He married in 1908, Margery Eyre-Walker of Byfleet, Surrey. They had two sons and two daughters.^[1]

Legal career

He took honours in law in 1890. As a Barrister-at-law, he was called to Bar in 1894 and joined the Western Circuit.^[1]

Political career

He sat as Liberal MP for Dorset North from January 1905 to January 1910. He was elected at the first time of asking at the North Dorset by-election in January 1905 when he gained the seat from the Conservatives.

North Dorset by-election, 1905^[2] Electorate 8,338

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Liberal	Arthur Walters Wills	4,239	56.0	+9.9
	Conservative	Sir Randolf Littlehales Baker	3,330	44.0	-9.9
Majority				12.0	19.8
Turnout				90.8
	Liberal gain from Conservative		Swing	+9.9

He held the seat a year later at the 1906 General Election.

General Election January 1906^[2] Electorate 8,490

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Liberal	Arthur Walters Wills	4,153	54.2	-1.8
	Conservative	Sir Randolf Littlehales Baker	3,508	45.8	+1.8
Majority				8.4	-3.6
Turnout				90.2	-0.6
	Liberal hold		Swing	-1.8

He lost his seat back to the Conservatives at the January 1910 General Election. He failed to re-gain his seat at the general election 11 months later;

General Election December 1910^[3] Electorate 8,525

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Conservative	Sir Randolf Littlehales Baker	3,919	50.2
	Liberal	Arthur Walters Wills	3,887	49.8
Turnout			7,806	91.6
Majority			32	0.4
	Conservative hold		Swing

He did not stand for parliament again.^[3]

Sources

• Who Was Who
• British parliamentary election results 1885-1918, Craig, F. W. S.

References

1. Who Was Who
2. British parliamentary election results 1885-1918 by Craig
3. British parliamentary election results 1885-1918

External links

• Who Was Who; http://www.ukwhoswho.com