Samuel Ridley

Born 1864, he was son of Samuel Edwin Ridley of St Helens, Isle of Wight and his wife Nona Jackson Kent.

After education at Clifton College[2] he entered the family firm of Ridley, Whitley and Company, linoleum manufacturers.

[3] He first entered politics in 1895, when he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Conservative-backed Moderate Party in the London County Council elections of that year.

[3] In September 1900, he was selected as Conservative and Unionist candidate to contest the parliamentary seat of Bethnal Green South West, held by the prominent Liberal MP, Edward Pickersgill.

In 1907, the local Conservative association chose a different candidate to contest the constituency at the next general election, with Ridley being rejected due to his views on tariff reform.