Thomas Milvain


Sir Thomas Milvain was an English lawyer and Conservative Party politician.

Background and legal career

Milvain was the son of Henry Milvain of North Elswick Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne and his wife Jane Davidson, and was educated at Durham Grammar School and Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where he graduated LL.B. in 1866 and LL.M. in 1872. He was called to the bar at Middle Temple in 1869, and practiced on the North-Eastern Circuit. He took silk in 1888, and after losing his parliament seat in 1892 was appointed Recorder of Bradford and Chancellor of the County Palatine of Durham. In 1901 he served as Chairman of the South African Compensation Commission.

Political career

In 1885 Milvain was elected Member of Parliament for Durham. He lost the seat in 1892. He stood unsuccessfully in Cockermouth, Cumberland, in 1895, and in Maidstone at a by-election in 1901, but was elected MP for Hampstead at a by-election in January 1902. Milvain gave up the seat in 1905 when he was appointed Judge Advocate General.
He married Mary Alice Henderson on 28 January 1875.

Sport

Milvain was an athletics blue in hurdles and won the National Championship over 120 yards hurdles in 1866.