Edwin Cornwall

Sir Edwin Andrew Cornwall, 1st Baronet PC DL (30 June 1863–27 February 1953) was an English politician and coal merchant.

Cornwall was born in Lapford, Devon. At the age of thirteen he became a clerk in a coal merchant's in Hammersmith, London, and by seventeen was manager of the company's depot at Kensington. A few years later he set up his own business. In 1900 he became the first mayor of the new Metropolitan Borough of Fulham, having long served on the local council. He was also a founder member of London County Council, sitting for the Progressive Party, for which he was for many years chief whip. In 1904 he was elected chairman of the LCC and was largely responsible for destroying the slums between Holborn and the Strand on the site of which were built Aldwych and Kingsway.

In 1906 Cornwall was elected to Parliament as a Liberal for Bethnal Green North East. From December 1916 to February 1919 he served as Minister of National Health Insurance and Comptroller of the Household and from 1918 to 1922 he was Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means and Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons. He was also vice-chairman of the County of London Territorial Force Association from 1908 to 1914.

Cornwall was knighted in 1905, created a Baronet in 1918, and appointed to the Privy Council in the 1921 Birthday Honours, [LondonGazette |issue=32346 |date=4 June 1921 |startpage=4529 |endpage= |supp=yes] entitling him to the style "The Right Honourable".

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References

*Obituary, "The Times", 2 March 1953