Wesleyan Methodist and Liberal son of a Baptist minister, born at Luton, who became Chairman of Frank Harden Ltd, Luton ladies hat manufacturer, and a director of United Match industries. He died at Wheathampstead on 19 April 1943.

His first attempt to enter Parliament was in 1911 and then in 1918 he was unsuccessful as a Coalition Liberal as Wellingborough,; similarly at a by-election at St. Albans in December 1919 and at Bedford in 1923. He was finally returned for Mid-Bedfordshire in 1929 but lost the seat in 1931. His final, and again unsuccessful, attempt to enter the Commons was in a by-election at Derbyshire West in June 1938. Throughout his career he took an interest in international affairs and strongly supported the League of Nations, highlighting Nazi persecution of the Jews. He was also an authority on employment issues. A member of the Liberal Party Council at the time of his death, he was also chairman of the party's Executive for six years

Category: Person
Comment on this entry