Edward Dawes

Who was Edward Dawes?

Edward Dawes was an English Liberal Party politician who served for one year as the Member of Parliament for the Isle of Wight. Born in relative poverty on the island, in 1840 he was left property by his aunt the English adventuress Sophie Dawes, Baronne de Feuchères.

He was elected at a by-election in May 1851, after the sitting Liberal MP John Simeon had resigned his seat. The election was extremely unruly, with a violent mob causing damage and the death of one voter from a heart attack. The Times reported "The constituency of the isle has been in a perfect ferment during the whole of the election and broken panes and broken heads have been among the results". Dawes defeated his Conservative challenger Captain Hammond by 46 votes.

However, at the general election in July 1852 he was defeated by the Conservative Party candidate, Francis Venables-Vernon-Harcourt, who secured a majority of 101 votes. Dawes did not stand for Parliament again, but devoted himself to the study of agricultural chemistry. He was the author of a number of tracts on the subject.

Dawes suffered from heart disease, and died while on a visit to the health resort of Sidmouth, Devon in January 1856. He was buried in the family vault at St Helens, Isle of Wight.