Samuel Forde Ridley

Who was Samuel Forde Ridley?

Samuel Forde Ridley was a British industrialist and Conservative Party politician.

He was son of S E Ridley of St Helens, Isle of Wight and his wife Nona née Jackson. After education at Clifton College he entered the family firm of Radley Whatley and Company, linoleum manufacturers.

He first entered politics in 1895, when he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Conservative-backed Moderate Party in the London County Council elections of that year. In September 1900 he was selected as Conservative and Unionist candidate to contest the parliamentary seat of Bethnal Green South West, held by the prominent Liberal MP, Edward Pickersgill. Ridley's pro war stance saw him unexpectedly take the seat from Pickersgill at the general election of that year. Six years later there was a swing to the Liberals and they regained the Bethnal Green seat. In 1907 the local Conservative association chose a different candidate to contest the constituency at the next general election, with Ridley being rejected due to his views on tariff reform. He was instead chosen to contest the Kent borough of Rochester.