George Hudson Bentinck introduced a bill to build a railway network in Ireland. The cost of the proposal was £16 million which George Hudson, no doubt sensing an opportunity, supported. The government did not support the bill which was ultimately defeated. In the run up to the 1852 general election Hudson – who by this time was in severe financial difficulty – spoke on several issues including a repeal of a timber tax and on a corrupt practices bill. He was re-elected by 54 votes in the election but with his railway career in decline and drinking heavily he presented rather a
George Courtauld (MP) George Courtauld (MP) George Courtauld (11 August 1830 – 29 February 1920) was an English cloth manufacturer and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1878 to 1885. Courtauld was the son of George Courtauld of Bocking, Essex. He was educated at University College, London and became a partner in the firm of Samuel Courtauld & Co which had been established by his grandfather George Courtauld. He was a Justice of the Peace for Essex. In December 1878 Courtauld was elected at a by-election as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Maldon. He held the seat until