RAMSDEN, John Charles (1788-1836), of Buckden, Wharfedale, Yorks.; Newby Park, nr. Boroughbridge, Yorks.; and 6 Upper Brook Street, London, Mdx.

A long-serving Whig member of the pre-Reform Commons, prolonged ill health meant that Ramsden’s parliamentary contribution was less significant during his last three years in the House. Possessing ‘high principles and numerous virtues’,1Morning Post, 2 Jan. 1837. he came from a long-established Yorkshire family that could trace its ancestry in the county back to the fourteenth century. He had been returned as a Whig member for Malton in 1820 on the interest of the 2nd Earl Fitzwilliam, to whom he was related through his wife, and represented that constituency until 1831, when he came in as one of four Reformers for Yorkshire. He gave his backing to the reform bill, although he was sometimes absent from the division lobbies due to illness.2HP Commons, 1820-32, vi. 925, 927.

Ramsden’s father, Sir John Ramsden, was the major landowner in the newly-enfranchised borough of Huddersfield, and in early June 1832 it was rumoured that Ramsden would offer for that constituency at the general election.3Sheffield Independent, 2 June 1832. However, he was deterred by the unfavourable reception he received when he endeavoured to address Huddersfield’s voters from the window of the George Inn later that month. Greeted by banners protesting ‘no “new Sarum”’, ‘no Boroughmongering’ and ‘Ramsden is a Tyrant’, he abandoned his attempt to speak to the crowd gathered outside the inn.4‘An Observer’, The Woodites’ ‘forget me not!’: being a sketch of a new political farce, called the Whig Tomfoolery Election... (1833), 8-9. Having addressed his supporters inside the building, he made an ‘ignoble exit’ by the back door.5Morning Post, 8 Dec. 1834. In September it was announced that he would offer instead for the North Riding, where he had been a resident for over 20 years, although he was not a substantial landowner.6Morning Post, 22 Dec. 1832; York Herald, 22 Dec. 1832. Described by The Times as ‘a most honourable, independent, and consistent politician’ and a long-standing supporter of civil and religious liberty, on the hustings he urged the North Riding’s voters to follow up the Reform Act ‘to a good and useful purpose’. He complained that he had been misrepresented as favouring the manufacturing interest over the agricultural interest, but while he disclaimed any wish to injure the latter, he nonetheless criticised their self-interest in defending the corn laws: ‘It was the landlord’s rents alone for which all this cry in favour of the corn laws was being raised, but he thought the importance of their rents being kept up could form no reason for a tax being placed on the first necessities of life’. He declared his support for the early abolition of slavery, and defended ministerial policy with regard to Belgium.7The Times, 19 Dec. 1832. He was defeated in the poll.

However, a vacancy at Malton in March 1833 provided Ramsden with an opportunity to re-enter Parliament, and he was duly elected for his former constituency without a contest. A silent member in this final phase of his career, he generally divided with Whig ministers, voting against Matthias Attwood’s motion on currency reform, 24 Apr. 1833, the ballot, 25 Apr. 1833, and the repeal of the Septennial Act, 15 May 1834. Notwithstanding his remarks on the hustings in 1832, he opposed Joseph Hume’s motion for a low fixed duty on corn, 7 Mar. 1834. He supported ministerial proposals to replace church rates with funds raised by a land tax, 21 Apr. 1834.

Ramsden had declined an approach to offer for a vacancy at Huddersfield in January 1834, although one lone elector had tendered a vote for him.8Morning Post, 13 Dec. 1833; The Standard, 11 Jan. 1834. Rumours that he would be invited to stand for that constituency at the 1835 general election proved to be false.9Bradford Observer, 4 Dec. 1834; Morning Post, 8 Dec. 1834. Instead he was re-elected for Malton, where he was again spared a contest. He divided with his party in the votes on the speakership, 19 Feb., and the address, 26 Feb. 1835. He opposed repeal of the malt tax, 10 Mar. 1835, but supported the granting of a charter to the University of London, 26 Mar. 1835. He backed Russell’s motion on the Irish church, 2 Apr. 1835. The following month he appeared on the hustings to support Lord Morpeth’s re-election for the West Riding.10Sheffield Independent, 9 May 1835.

In February 1836 Ramsden underwent ‘a very painful and protracted operation’ to treat cancer of the face.11Royal Cornwall Gazette, 26 Feb. 1836. He does not appear to have been present for any divisions that session. That October he went to Richmond, Surrey, for the benefit of his health.12Morning Post, 14 Oct. 1836. He reportedly joined the hunt at Badminton House on 17 December 1836, but died at Richmond less than two weeks later.13Morning Post, 26 Dec. 1836; Gent. Mag. (1837), i. 318. He was said to have ‘exemplified the most exalted courage and patient resignation’ during his illness ‘of long duration and acute suffering’.14Gent. Mag. (1837), i. 319. He was buried in the family vault at Brotherton parish church, near Doncaster.15York Herald, 14 Jan. 1837. His will was proved under £25,000, and his London house and his Yorkshire estates at Arncliffe, Buckden, Kettlewell and Weddon passed to his wife, with reversion to his only surviving son, John William Ramsden (1831-1914).16HP Commons, 1820-32, vi. 928. John William succeeded his grandfather as fifth baronet in 1839, and served as Liberal MP for Taunton, 1853-7; Hythe, 1857-9; the West Riding, 1859-1865; Monmouth district, 1868-74; the Eastern division of the West Riding, 1880-5; and Osgoldcross, 1885-6. Ramsden’s only surviving daughter, Charlotte Louisa, married Edward Horsman, Liberal MP for Cockermouth, 1836-52; Stroud, 1853-68; and Liskeard, 1869-76.