Ralph Etherton

Ralph Humphrey Etherton (11 February 1904 – 10 December 1987) was a British barrister and Conservative politician. He was the son of Captain Louis Etherton.[1] He was educated at Charterhouse School and Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and was called to the Bar in 1926.[2][3]

Ralph Etherton
Member of Parliament
for Stretford
In office
8 December 1939 – 15 June 1945
Preceded byAnthony Crossley
Succeeded byHerschel Lewis Austin
Majority18,984
Personal details
Born(1904-02-11)11 February 1904
Died10 December 1987(1987-12-10) (aged 83)
Political partyConservative
Alma materTrinity Hall, Cambridge
Military career
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Air Force
Years of service1944-1945
RankFlight Lieutenant
Battles/warsWorld War II

He became involved in Conservative politics, failing to win a parliamentary seat at Everton, Liverpool in 1935. In 1937, he unsuccessfully stood for election to the London County Council as a Municipal Reform Party candidate.[4] Two tears later, the 1939 Stretford by-election was caused by the death of Anthony Crossley, Member of Parliament for Stretford. Etherton won the contest and was elected to the seat.[5]

Etherton joined the Royal Air Force, rising from the rank of Pilot Officer to Flight Lieutenant.[6] On 15 December 1944, he married Johanne Cloherty in St Mary Undercroft, the crypt chapel of the Palace of Westminster.[1] He met his future wife while she was Charles de Gaulle's diplomatic driver.[2]

He lost his parliamentary seat at the 1945 general election.[7] He retired from active politics and pursued a career in business. He died in December 1987, aged 82.[2]

References
  1. Marriages, The Times, 16 December 1944
  2. Obituary of Mr Ralph Etherton, The Times, 9 January 1988
  3. Bar Examinations, 13 January 1926, p. 18
  4. Fight To Govern London, The Times, 2 March 1937, p. 13
  5. Unionist Victory at Stretford, The Times, 11 December 1939, p. 5
  6. The Times, 16 October 1940, p. 4; 16 September 1942, p. 7
  7. "UK General Election results July 1945". Area Studies, UK: politics, elections and government in Britain. University of Keele. Retrieved 22 August 2008.
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