Hudson Kearley, 1st Viscount Devonport
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The Right Honourable The Viscount Devonport PC DL |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Hudson Ewbanke Kearley 1 September 1856 Uxbridge, Middlesex, England |
| Died | 5 September 1934 (aged 78) Dunkeld, Perthshire, Scotland |
| Resting place | Hambleden, Buckinghamshire, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Liberals |
| Occupation | Grocer, politician |
Hudson Ewbanke Kearley, 1st Viscount Devonport, PC, DL (1 September 1856 – 5 September 1934), styled Lord Devonport between 1910 and 1917, was a British grocer and politician. He founded the International Tea Company's Stores, became the first chairman of the Port of London Authority, and served as Minister of Food Control during World War I.
Devonport was the tenth and youngest child of George Ewbanke Kearley (1814–1876) and his wife, Mary Ann Hudson. He studied at Surrey County School (now Cranleigh School) and joined Tetley & Sons in 1872. In 1876, Devonport founded a tea importing company, known as Kearley and Tonge from 1887, and began retailing his own goods in 1878. In 1890, he had over 200 branches trading as International Stores and in 1895, both companies were combined to form International Tea Company's Stores and shares were offered to the public.
Hudson Kearley married Selina Chester in 1888. They had three children: daughter Beryl, and sons Gerald, 2nd Viscount Devonport, and Mark.
Devonport was elected as a Liberal Member of Parliament for Devonport in the 1892 general election. He was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Buckinghamshire in 1901. In 1903, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, assisting the President of the Board of Trade, David Lloyd George. He was created a baronet, of Wittingham in the County of Buckingham, in 1908 and became a member of the Privy Council in 1909. He retired from the lower house after the January 1910 general election.
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