Richard Hodgson

Richard Hodgson-Huntley (1 April 1812 – 22 December 1877), also known as Richard Hodgson until 1870, was a British Conservative Party politician and railway entrepreneur. He married Catherine Moneypenny, daughter of Anthony Compton. They had at least one child: Katherine Isabella.

Political career The then-Hodgson was elected a protectionist Conservative MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed in 1837. He held the seat until 1847 when he stood down in order to contest Newcastle upon Tyne, a seat his brother, John Hodgson, was retiring from; he was unsuccessful.

Hodgson returned to Berwick-upon-Tweed to contest the 1852 general election and by-elections in 1853 and 1859 but failed to recapture the seat.

Hodgson-Huntley's reign saw the company's financial position significantly improved and, within one year of his chairmanship beginning, operating expenses were cut to 44% and he announced the company was free from debt, and a dividend of 2.5% to shareholders. Although the company's dividends varied during his chairmanship – such as in 1862 when capital commitments again swamped the company's financial resources – they regularly hit up to 3%. In 1877, until his death, he was High Sheriff of Northumberland. In 1870 he ordered the first rebuilding of Carham Hall to create four bays along its Southern Elevation.