William Burdett-Coutts

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William Lehman Ashmead Bartlett Burdett-Coutts (1851 – 28 July 1921), born William Lehman Ashmead-Bartlett, was an American-born British Conservative politician, younger brother of Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett.

Ashmead-Bartlett was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States. All his grandparents were British subjects and after his father's death in 1852 he moved to England, his home for the remainder of his life. He entered Keble College, Oxford in 1870.

Secretary to the philanthropist Baroness Burdett-Coutts, he married her on 12 February 1881 and took her surname (but no title). The marriage was received with surprise (she was thirty-seven years older than him), but was happy, although childless.

In 1885 he was elected Member of Parliament for Westminster, and when that constituency was abolished in 1918, for that of Westminster Abbey, which he held until his death in 1921. He had been appointed to the Privy Council in the 1921 New Year Honours, entitling him to the style "The Right Honourable".

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
William Henry Smith
Lord Algernon Percy
Member of Parliament for Westminster
1885–1918
Succeeded by
Constituency abolished
Preceded by
Constituency created
Member of Parliament for Westminster Abbey
1918–1921
Succeeded by
John Sanctuary Nicholson

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