Samuel Pattinson was a British businessman and Liberal politician.
Early life and family
Samuel Pattinson was born on 17 December 1870 in Ruskington, the son of a contractor and businessman, William Pattinson, and his wife Anne. His father ran the building company Messrs. Pattinson and Son alongside serving as chairman of Ruskington Urban District Council. Pattinson was educated at Abingdon House School, and Carre's Grammar School in Sleaford with his brother Robert, an active politician who chaired Kesteven County Council between 1934 and his death. Their eldest brother, John, was involved in the family business, supervising contracts in Liverpool and the south of England, before moving back to Lincolnshire; he represented Heckington and Sleaford on the County Council, became a justice of the peace and served as vice-chairman of the Sleaford Bench. Pattinson married Betsy Sharpley Bainbridge on 14 April 1897. She was the second daughter of a draper, George Bainbridge JP, of Portland House on South Park, Lincoln, and his first wife Annie, daughter of Edward Penniston JP of Doncaster. Following his father-in-law's death in 1916, Pattinson carried on the business with several other men and later became a director.
Career
The Pattinson family ran a successful builder's merchants in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, of which Samuel was a director. He was also a director of Bainbridge's Ltd in Lincoln, his wife's father's company.
Despite his Liberal affiliations, Pattison was obviously an admirer of Tory leader Bonar Law. In December 1922 he informed his constituents in Horncastle that Bonar Law was ‘the finest leader the House of Commons had seen for a very long time. ..held the House of Commons in the hollow of his hand". Pattinson said although he differed in political viewpoint from Bonar Law, he admired him greatly and believed he honestly wished to do his best for the country. By this time of course Bonar Law was prime minister having replaced David Lloyd George when his Liberal-Conservative coalition fell after the Carlton Club meeting of 19 October 1922. As an Asquithian Liberal, it is unlikely Pattinson had much regard for Lloyd George and his view of Bonar Law might have been coloured by this. By December 1922, the general election was over, so Pattison had no need to flatter Bonar Law to his constituents to try and earn Conservative votes.