CHAPTER X 



FIRST STANDING FOR PARLIAMENT (1865) 



(Age 31) 



In 1865 Lubbock was invited by Mr. George 

 Warde Norman, the distinguished Political 

 Economist, and Chairman of the West Kent 

 Liberals, to contest that constituency. As his 

 father had so recently declined to approve of 

 his standing for the City he at once refused. 

 The City was a safe seat, and one peculiarly 

 suitable to a Banker. West Kent, on the contrary, 

 was a forlorn hope, the Conservative at the 

 previous election having had a majority of 2000. 

 Mr. Norman, however, would not take his refusal, 

 but applied directly to Sir J. W. Lubbock, who 

 to the son's great surprise gave a cordial con- 

 sent. The result was that young Lubbock stood 

 with Mr. Angerstein against the sitting members, 

 Lord Holmesdale and Mr. (now Sir W.) Hart 

 Dyke. 



His scientific friends expressed some very 

 natural regret at his attention being thus, in 

 part at least, diverted from Science, but as for 

 the rapid change of view of his father, it is 

 characteristic of the simple sincerity of the future 



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