Ernest Soares

Who was Ernest Soares?

Sir Ernest Joseph Soares, was a British solicitor and Liberal politician.

Soares was the son of José Luís Xavier Soares, a Liverpool merchant of Indian origin. Prior to conversion, the family were Gaud Saraswat Brahmins with the surname Gaitonde. He was educated at St John's College, Cambridge, where he read law. He was a partner in Allen, Prestage and Soares, solicitors, of Manchester. In 1900 he was elected to the House of Commons for Barnstaple and served in the Liberal admninistration of H. H. Asquith as a Junior Lord of the Treasury from 1910 to 1911. The latter year failing health forced him to resign this post and his seat in the House of Commons. He was knighted the same year.

Soares married Kate, daughter of Samuel Lord, of Sale. He died in Mayfair in March 1926, aged 61.