William Wither Beach

William Wither Bramston Beach, PC (25 December 1826 – 3 August 1901) was an English Conservative politician, who served in the House of Commons for 44 years between 1857 and 1901, becoming Father of the House of Commons until he was run over by a cab.

Beach was the son of William Beach of Oakley Hall, Hampshire and his wife Jane Henrietta Browne daughter of John Browne of Salperton Park, Gloucestershire . His family was connected to the Hicks Beach baronets. Beach was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford where he excelled as an athlete.

In 1857 Beach was elected Member of Parliament for North Hampshire. He held the seat until the seat was reorganised under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885. He was then elected MP for Andover and held the seat until his death in 1901. In the House of Commons, he spoke little but did much hard work in committee and was appointed a Privy Councillor in January 1900.

Beach was actively involved in the rapidly growing British railway industry, and became a Director of the London and South Western Railway, becoming Deputy Chairman of the railway's Board under the Chairmanship of Sir William Wyndam Portal, 2nd Baronet. When a Masonic Lodge was formed for the staff of the London and South Western Railway it was named Beach Lodge after the Deputy Chairman, who also served as the Lodge's first Worshipful Master.

Beach married Caroline Chichester Clevland, daughter of Colonel Augustus Clevland of Tapeley Park, North Devon in 1857. They lived at Oakley Hall, near Basingstoke.

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