William Henry Foster

Colonel William Henry Foster DL JP ( – 27 March 1908) was a British businessman and Conservative Party politician, who owned the Black Dyke Mills in the West Riding of Yorkshire and lived in Hornby Castle in Lancashire. He sat in the House of Commons from 1895 to 1900.

Early life

Foster was the son of William Foster, of Hornby Castle, Lancashire and of Queensbury, near Bradford in the West Riding of Yorkshire, and the former Ruth Briggs (a daughter of Abraham Briggs of Northowram). His younger brother was Johnston Jonas Foster, of Cliffe Hill, Lightcliffe. Through his brother, he was uncle to Ethel Jane Foster (wife of Lucius O'Brien, 15th Baron Inchiquin) and Gertrude Stansfeld Foster (wife of Constantine Phipps, 3rd Marquess of Normanby). became one of the world's largest makers of worsted cloth. The firm had been founded by his grandfather John Foster (1798–1879), who had retired to Hornby Castle and passed the company to his son William (1821–1884).

Foster was appointed as High Sheriff of Lancashire in June 1891, after the death of George Preston, and in September 1892 he became a Deputy Lieutenant of the West Riding of Yorkshire. He served in the militia as the Lieutenant-Colonel of the 2nd West Yorkshire Yeomanry Cavalry until his retirement in 1892, with the honorary rank of Colonel. He had been approached in 1893 to stand for Lancaster, but a local meeting selected someone else, and Foster withdrew. However, in August that year another local meeting asked him to stand, and an announcement was made to that effect, but he was not formally adopted as a candidate until 29 June 1895. alleging that Foster and his election agents were guilty of "bribery, treating and other corrupt practices". included allegations included 26 cases of treating, 14 of bribery, 13 prohibited persons voting, and that Foster had offered voters employment at his mills in Queensbury. In the hearings at Lancaster Castle, Foster denied the charges, telling the court that at a meeting where his record as an employer had been attacked, he had said that work was available at the mills.

Foster held the Lancaster seat until his defeat at the 1900 general election The funeral was also attended by Lancaster's MP Norval Helme, and its Lord Mayor. Over 200 wreaths were sent.