William Byles

Sir William Pollard Byles (13 February 1839 – 15 October 1917) was a British newspaper owner and radical Liberal politician.

He was an advanced radical, a strong supporter of Irish Home Rule and an advocate of Land Reform.

In an effort to prevent the Conservative winning due to a split ant-Tory vote, Byles attempted to resolve the situation by suggesting himself as a compromise candidate that both parties could support.

Byles decided to run anyway and surprisingly, the Labour Representation Committee stepped in and endorsed him, to the annoyance of many in the local Trades Council who would have happily supported a 'Liberal-Labour' candidate.

[3] Sir William Pollard Byles died in October 1917 at his home in Hampstead, London, aged 78.