Arthur Marsden (politician)

For other people named Arthur Marsden, see Arthur Marsden (disambiguation).

Arthur Marsden (1883 – 26 November 1960)^[1][2] was a Royal Navy officer who became a British Conservative Party politician. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1931 to 1935 and from 1937 to 1950.

Captain Arthur Marsden
Member of Parliament for Chertsey
In office 2 July 1937 – 3 February 1950
Preceded by	Archibald Boyd-Carpenter
Succeeded by	Lionel Heald
Member of Parliament for Battersea North
In office 27 October 1931 – 25 October 1935
Preceded by	William Sanders
Succeeded by	William Sanders
Personal details
Born	1883
Died	26 November 1960
Political party	Conservative
Military service
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch/service	Royal Navy
Rank	Captain
Battles/wars	World War I Battle of Jutland

Naval career

Marsden was made a Royal Navy Sub-lieutenant on 15 November 1902^[3] and was promoted to lieutenant on 31 August 1904.^[4] He later was promoted to lieutenant commander, and as such was in command of the Acasta-class destroyer HMS Ardent in 1916 at the Battle of Jutland. The Nassau-class battleship SMS Westfalen sank Ardent, but Marsden was commended for his service in the battle.^[5][6] Later Marsden was promoted to captain, and on 5 October 1920 he transferred to the Royal Navy Retired List.^[7]

Political career

Marsden first stood for election to the House of Commons at the 1929 general election, when he unsuccessfully contested the Communist-held Northern division of Battersea. In a four-way contest, the seat was won by the William Sanders of the Labour Party, and when Labour's vote collapsed at the 1931 general election, Marsden won the seat from Sanders.^[8]

Sanders regained the seat at the 1935 general election, but Marsden returned to Parliament two years later when he won a by-election in July 1937 in the safely-Conservative Chertsey division of Surrey. He held the seat until he retired from the Commons at the 1950 general election.^[8]