William Quilter

Who was William Quilter?

Sir William Cuthbert Quilter, 1st Baronet was an English stock broker, art collector and Liberal/Liberal Unionist politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885–1906.

Quilter was born at Finsbury, the son of William Quilter and his wife Elizabeth Harriet Cuthbert. His father was a prominent accountant with the firm of Quilter, Ball & Co and was instrumental in the foundation of the Institute of Accountants.

Quilter was educated privately. He became a stockbroker and was eventually head the firm of Quilter Balfour & Co. He was an art collector, and one of the founders of the National Telephone Company. He was commodore of the Royal Harwich Yacht Club and a member of the council of the Yacht Racing Association.

In the 1885 general election, Quilter was elected Member of Parliament for Sudbury. In 1886 he introduced a bill 'for better securing the Purity of Beer'. He held the seat until 1906.

Quilter built Bawdsey Manor in 1886 and established a steam powered chain ferry in 1894 to cross the River Deben and provide access to Felixstowe railway station which ran until 1931. He enlarged the manor house in 1895 He also owned Hintlesham Hall. Quilter was created a baronet on 13 September 1897.