William Morse (Liberal politician)

William Ewart Morse (23 November 1878 – 18 December 1952) was an English businessman and Liberal Party politician, briefly member of parliament for Bridgwater and later a member of Wiltshire County Council.

Morse was the son of Levi Lapper Morse, a prominent Swindon shopkeeper and the Liberal Member of Parliament for the Wilton or South Division of Wiltshire from 1906-1910. He was educated at the High School, Swindon. In 1910 he married Alma the daughter of Hawthorn Thornton of South Africa, a civil engineer. They appear to have two sons and a daughter. Their second son, Stanley, was killed on active service with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1941.

Morse was a director of a limited company and a leading businessman in Swindon. His wife owned Croft Down Kennels, which bred at least one champion dog. He served as President of Swindon Chamber of Commerce and was a Freemason for 40 years, Past Master of the Royal Sussex Lodge of Emulation, 355 and held the office of Provincial Grand Standard Bearer.

Morse, like his father, was a lifelong member of the Primitive Methodist Church. In 1923 he was one of three Primitive Methodists chosen to represent his denomination on the British Council of the World Alliance for Promoting International Friendship through the Churches. He was elected Vice-President of the Primitive Methodist Church for 1925-26.

Morse followed his father’s path in politics as in religion, perhaps prompted by his given forenames. In local politics, Morse was a member of Swindon Town Council for 20 years. He was Chairman of the Finance Committee, an Alderman and served as Mayor of Swindon for two years. Morse was also elected to Wiltshire County Council and sat for 30 years on that authority. He also served as a Justice of the Peace and was Chairman of one of Swindon’s three rotas of Justices.

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