James Fortescue Flannery

Who was James Fortescue Flannery?

Sir James Fortescue-Flannery, 1st Baronet was an English engineer and naval architect, and Liberal Unionist politician.

Flannery was born in Liverpool, the son of Capt. John Flannery of Seacombe. Educated at the Liverpool College of Science and Victoria University, he worked in Birkenhead and was subsequently engaged by Sir Edward J Reid KCS later Chief Constructor of H.M Navy. He was head of Flannery, Baggally & Johnson Marine Engineering, which eventually opened offices in London, Liverpool and Rotterdam. and a Director of London and South Western Bank. Between 1900 and 1906 he was President of the Railway Clerks' Association. He was President of the Institute of Marine Engineers 1914, and later President of the Society of Consulting Engineers 1931.

He was appointed J.P for Surrey 1892, for Kent in 1895, knighted in 1899, and appointed JP for Essex in 1904.

He was elected at the 1895 general election as Member of Parliament for Shipley in West Yorkshire, holding the seat until the 1906 general election. He returned to Parliament at the January 1910 election as Conservative Party MP for Maldon in Essex.