William McCullagh Torrens

Who was William McCullagh Torrens?

William Torrens McCullagh Torrens was an Irish Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons for English constituencies variously between 1848 and 1885.

Torrens was the son of James McCullagh of Greenfield Dublin, and his wife Jane Torrens daughter of Andrew Torrens of Dublin. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin. In 1835 he was Assistant Commissioner of the Irish Poor Inquiry and was called to the bar in Ireland in 1836. He was an original member of the Anti-Corn Law League founded in 1838. In 1846 he was private secretary to Henry Labouchere when he was Chief Secretary for Ireland.

Torrens stood for parliament unsuccessfully at Dundalk in 1847 but was seated as Member of Parliament on petition in March 1848. He held the seat until 1852 when he stood unsuccessfully for Yarmouth.

Torrens was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1855. He was elected MP for Yarmouth in 1857 but his election was declared void on petition. In 1863 he adopted the additional surname Torrens. In 1865 he was elected MP for Finsbury. He held the seat until 1885. He introduced in 1866 the "Artisans and Labourers Dwelling Bill" and carried the lodger franchise in the Reform Act 1867.