Lewis Randle Starkey

Who was Lewis Randle Starkey?

Lewis Randle Starkey was a British Conservative politician.

He was the eldest son of John Starkey of Spring Lodge, Huddersfield and his wife, Sarah Anne, daughter of Joseph Armitage, a millowner of Milnsbridge, Yorkshire.

Following education at Rugby School and the University of Berlin he entered "commercial pursuits" in Yorkshire. He held a commission in the 3rd West Riding Yeomanry. In 1858 he married his namesake, Constance Margaret, daughter of Thomas Starkey.

In 1868 he was chosen by the Conservative Party to be a parliamentary candidate for the Southern Division of the West Riding of Yorkshire, but failed to be elected. He was the party's candidate again at the next general election in 1874, and was elected in the place of the sitting Liberal member of parliament, Henry F Beaumont. By this time, he was living at Heath Hall, near Wakefield. Starkey only served one term in the Commons, losing his seat at the 1880 general election.

Having left parliament, Starkey and his family moved to Norwood Park, near Southwell, Nottinghamshire in 1881. He held the office of High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire in 1891, and was an alderman on Nottinghamshire County Council.