Thomas Duckham

Who was Thomas Duckham?

Thomas Duckham was an English farmer, cattle breeder and Liberal politician.

Duckham was the second son of John Duckham of Shirehampton, Bristol and was educated at private schools at Bristol and Hereford. He was a tenant farmer at Baysham Court, near Ross and was a stock breeder of pedigree of Hereford cattle. In partnership with Thomas Treherne, he built St Nicholas Church and the city gaol, in Gaol Street, Hereford. He founded the Central and Associated Chambers of Agriculture of which he became chairman in 1883. He was also a member of the Councils of Central Chamber of Agriculture at Bath and west of England and of the Herefordshire Agricultural Society. For twenty years he edited the Hereford Herd Book. He became JP for Herefordshire.

In 1880 Duckham was elected Member of Parliament for Herefordshire. The seat was replaced under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885 and in 1885 he was elected MP for Leominster which he held until 1886. He was an alderman of Herefordshire County Council from 1888 and a member of the Ross Board of guardians. He was also chairman of the Ross Highway Board for 15 years.