George Trout Bartley

Who was George Trout Bartley?

Sir George Christopher Trout Bartley KCB was an English civil servant, banker and Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1906.

Bartley was born at Stoke Newington, the son of Robert Bartley and his wife Julia Anne Lucas. He was educated at Clapton, London and University College School. He entered public service and worked for twenty years at the Science and Art Department, becoming Assistant Director. He was interested in poverty and social issues and published works on education and on building self-reliance He supported technical education, and was treasurer of the Society of Arts. He established a Penny Bank, which became the National Penny Bank. He was a J.P. for Middlesex and Westminster.

Trout Bartley stood for parliament in Hackney at the 1880 general election, but was unsuccessful. He was elected as Member of Parliament for Islington North at the 1885 general election and held the seat until his defeat in 1906. He announced that he would stand again when a suitable opportunity arose, and contested the Hull West by-election in November 1907.