Robert Tasker

Sir Robert Inigo Tasker, TD, DL, JP (20 October 186828 February 1959) was a British architect and Conservative politician.

Architecture Robert was the son of George Tasker, and following education at Ardingly College he joined his father's architectural practice in 1892. He became senior partner in the firm in 1916. In 1908 the unit became the 11th Battalion of the London Regiment (Finsbury Rifles). Following the outbreak of war, he reached the rank of major in 1916.

Politics He was elected to the London County Council in March 1910, representing Holborn as a member of the majority Municipal Reform Party, which was allied to the parliamentary Conservative Party. He resigned his seat in October 1914 when he entered active military service, returning to the council at the 1922 election. He remained a member of the council until 1937 and served as chairman between 1930 and 1931. He was knighted in 1931 at the end of his term of office. In October 1935 he was granted the freedom of the Metropolitan Borough of Holborn. He was also a member of three livery companies of the City of London: the Paviors, Fan Makers and Gardeners. Another election was held in 1924, and Tasker stood again, this time at Islington East. In a three-cornered contest, Tasker defeated the sitting Liberal Member of Parliament (MP), Arthur Comyns Carr. Five years later he was defeated when a swing to Labour saw Ethel Bentham, one of his opponents in 1924, take the seat.

In 1935 he was selected as Conservative candidate for the Holborn constituency. Duly elected, Tasker was on the right wing of the Conservative Party, and frequently found himself at odds with the wartime National Government.

Death Sir Robert Tasker died, aged 90, on 28 February 1959. His funeral was held at Hawkinge Crematorium, Folkestone on 6 March.