David John Morgan

Who was David John Morgan?

David John Morgan was a British businessman and Conservative Party politician.

Morgan was the son of David Thomas Morgan of Whipps Cross, Walthamstow, Essex, and his wife Mary née Ridge. Born at the White House, High Road, Leytonstone, he was educated at Forest School, Walthamstow and at Vevey in Switzerland.

He entered business in the City of London, where he was a Russia merchant and member of the firm of Morgan, Gellibrand and Company. He was also a director of the Surrey Commercial Docks Company and of the Northampton Brewery Company. In 1867 he married Emily Bigland of Etloe House, Leyton.

Morgan entered politics when he was elected to the first Essex County Council formed in 1889, being returned as Conservative councillor for Leytonstone in a hard fought contest. He later became councillor for Brentwood, having made his home at Bentley Mill near the town.

In 1900 he was selected as the Conservative and Unionist candidate to contest the South Western or Walthamstow Division of Essex. The seat was held by Sam Woods, elected as a Liberal-Labour member of parliament at a by-election in 1897.

The election was held at the height of the Second Boer War, and Morgan benefitted from the fact that he supported the government's policy, while Woods had abstained on a vote in the Commons supporting the war. Morgan won the seat by a large majority, and the gain of the seat was seen as one of the most significant government successes in the "khaki election".