Robert Alstead (23 October 1873 – 9 September 1946) was a self-made businessman in the clothing trade and Liberal Party politician in the United Kingdom.

Contents 1 Family and education 2 Career 3 Politics 3.1 Local politics 3.2 Parliament 4 Honours 5 Death 6 References

[edit] Family and education

Alstead was born in Upholland, Lancashire, the son of a joiner & carpenter. He was educated at Wigan Elementary School and Wigan Mining Technical College. ^[1] In 1896 he married Sarah Ann Deakin of Wigan. ^[2] He and his wife had 7 children, 6 boys and a girl. ^[3]

[edit] Career

Alstead started life as a newsboy on a railway book stall at the age of 10. ^[4] He became a self-made businessman. He was a sauce and pickle manufacturer in the 1890s, then moved into the clothing trade, eventually owning a chain of shops tailoring for men in the Wigan area and founding Robert Alstead, Ltd, woollen manufacturers and clothing manufacturers. ^[5]

[edit] Politics

[edit] Local politics

Alstead was an elected member of Wigan Town Council from 1913–1929 and was Mayor of Wigan in 1926–27. He was a Governor of Wigan Grammar School and a governor of the Wigan Mining Technical College between 1913–1932. He also served as a Justice of the Peace. ^[6]

[edit] Parliament

Alstead unsuccessfully contested the Wigan parliamentary constituency at the 1918 general election. He next contested Altrincham in Cheshire at the 1922 general election when he finished second to the sitting Conservative MP Sir George Hamilton but ahead of the Labour candidate.

Alstead stood again in Altrincham at the 1923 general election, this time defeating Sir George Hamilton in a straight fight but he lost the seat at the 1924 general election when the Conservative candidate was Cyril Atkinson.

Alstead tried to regain Altrincham at the 1929 general election, but without success. He did not contest the 1931 general election, when Atkinson was returned unopposed and did not stand for Parliament again. He was prospective Liberal candidate for Preston in 1934-1935, but pulled out the month before the 1935 election. ^[7]

[edit] Honours

He received the Order of the British Empire in the New Year's Honours List of 1939. ^[8]

[edit] Death

Alstead died at Gathurst, near Wigan on 9 September 1946, aged 72 years.

[edit] References

• Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (3rd edition ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X. 
• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Sir George Clements Hamilton	Member of Parliament for Altrincham 1923 – 1924	Succeeded by Cyril Atkinson