The Right Honourable The Lord Dovercourt
Chairman of the National Liberal Party
In office 1946–1947
Preceded by	James Henderson-Stewart
Succeeded by	John Maclay
Member of Parliament for Harwich
In office 14 November 1935 – 18 January 1954
Preceded by	John Pybus
Succeeded by	Julian Ridsdale
Member of Parliament for North East Derbyshire
In office 14 December 1918 – 26 October 1922
Preceded by	George Robert Harland Bowden
Succeeded by	Frank Lee
Personal details
Born	Joseph Stanley Holmes 31 October 1878 Marylebone, Middlesex
Died	22 April 1961(1961-04-22) (aged 82) Marylebone, London
Nationality	British
Political party	National Liberal
Other political affiliations	Liberal
Spouse	Eva Gertrude
Alma mater	City of London School

Joseph Stanley Holmes, 1st Baron Dovercourt (31 October 1878 – 22 April 1961) was a British chartered accountant, businessman and Liberal Party politician, who later served as a Liberal National Member of Parliament.

Background and education

Holmes was born in Marylebone, Middlesex, the son of Horace G. Holmes, JP. He was educated at the City of London School.^[1]

Career

Holmes was a chartered accountant and company director. He served as vice-president of the Building Societies Association and was a member of the London County Council 1910 to 1919. He was elected Liberal Member of Parliament for North East Derbyshire at the 1918 general election, but narrowly lost the seat at the 1922 general election.^[2] The initially declared majority was only 5 votes, and an electoral petition was lodged. The petition was dismissed when a recount found a higher majority of 15.^[2]

Holmes then stood unsuccessfully in Dunbartonshire at the 1923 general election,^[3] and in Cheltenham at the 1924 election.^[4] He finally returned to the House of Commons after a thirteen-year absence at the 1935 general election, when he was elected for Harwich as a Liberal National.^[5] He held the seat until 1954, sitting later as a 'National Liberal and Conservative'. He introduced as Private Member's Bills the Inheritance (Family Provision) Act 1938 and the Coast Protection Act 1939. On 18 January 1954 he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Dovercourt, of Harwich in the County of Essex.^[6]

Personal life

Lord Dovercourt married Eva Gertrude, daughter of William Thomas Rowley, in 1905. He died in Marylebone, London, in April 1961, aged 82. The barony became extinct on his death.^[1]