Sir William Tomlinson, 1st Baronet

Who was Sir William Tomlinson, 1st Baronet?

Sir William Edward Murray Tomlinson, 1st Baronet was an English lawyer, colliery owner and Conservative politician.

Tomlinson was born in the Lancaster registration district in Lancashire and became a barrister. He was living at 3 Richmond Terrace Richmond from 1868 until his death He was part owner of the Worsley Mesnes Colliery Company.

Tomlinson was elected as Member of Parliament for Preston in 1882, and held the seat until 1906. In the 1900 election he was challenged unsuccessfully by Keir Hardie. He was created a baronet, of Richmond Terrace on 11 August 1902. Winston Churchill was challenged to fisticuffs when he referred to Tomlinson as "a miserable old man". At the end of March, 1903, Tomlinson was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Lancashire.

Tomlinson never married and on his death at the age of 74 the baronetcy became extinct. .