Sir Dennis Boles, 1st Baronet

Who was Sir Dennis Boles, 1st Baronet?

Sir Dennis Fortescue Boles, 1st Baronet CBE, DL, was a British Conservative politician and Baron of Bishop's Lydeard in Somerset, England.

Boles was the son of Reverend James Thomas Boles of Ryll Court, Exmouth, Devon. He was educated at Bradfield School and Exeter College, Oxford. He was returned to Parliament for Wellington, Somerset, in 1911, a seat he held until 1918, and then sat for Taunton from 1918 to 1921. Apart from his political career Boles was also a Lieutenant-Colonel in the 3rd Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment, a Justice of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenant of Somerset and for 1923 the High Sheriff of Somerset. He was made a CBE in 1919 and in 1922 he was created a baronet, of Bishop's Lydeard in the County of Somerset.

Boles married Beatrice, daughter of John Lysaght, in 1894. He died in July 1935, aged 74, and was succeeded in the baronetcy by his second but eldest surviving son Gerald. His eldest son, 2nd Lt. Hastings Fortescue Boles, was killed in action in France on 24 May 1915 while serving with the Royal Flying Corps. Lady Boles died in 1939.

Sir Dennis was also a cricketer, and did much to popularise the Exmouth Club.