Joseph Somes

Joseph Somes (9 December 1787 – 25 June 1845) was a British shipowner and Conservative politician.

Family Born in Stepney, London, Somes was the youngest son of Samuel Somes (1758–1816) and Sarah née Green. In 1811, he married Mary Ann Daplyn, daughter of Thomas Daplyn of Stepney, and they had one surviving daughter. However, after her death in 1835, he remarried to Maria Saxton in 1837. Saxton was the daughter of Charles Saxton and sister of Charles Waring Saxton, an early migrant to New Zealand, and Somes' lawyer, Edward Saxton. Somes was elected Member of Parliament for Dartmouth at a by-election in 1844—caused by the death of Sir John Henry Seale, 1st Baronet. Entering parliament required him to transfer ownership of his ships to his nephews, or he would have been disqualified as a government contractor. Somes held the seat for just six months until his death in 1845.

Death Somes died on 25 June 1845 at his home on Mile End Road, London, and was then buried in the family vault of St Dunstan's in Stepney on 2 July. He had an estimated wealth of £434,000.