John Sears (British politician)

[1][2] He was the son of the Reverend James Sears, a Baptist minister in Camberwell in south London, and quickly became involved in the activities of the church as a teacher and librarian.

[2][3] He was also the leader of the local Band of Hope temperance organisation and was associated with Baptist churches in the Peckham area.

[2] In 1901 Sears was elected to the London County Council as a member of the majority Progressive Party representing Hackney North.

The seat had been held by the Conservative Party since the 1880s, but Sears unexpectedly unseated James Agg-Gardner, the sitting Member of Parliament.

[2][3] He served a single term in the Commons, and the Conservatives regained the Cheltenham seat at the next election in January 1910.