Politician
Vincent went on a world tour, in which he was so impressed with the effects of imperialism that he decided to stand for the Conservative Party (although he had previously tended towards Liberalism). At the general election in November 1885 he defeated Samuel Plimsoll to win the constituency of Sheffield Central. He remained in Parliament until his death, being returned unopposed in 1895 and 1900, although he had to win the elections of 1886, 1892 and 1906. As an MP Vincent became the first politician to openly politicise opposition to immigration and make it a campaign issue. He was assisted in this endeavour by William Evans-Gordon who soon took over from Vincent as the focus of "anti-alien" campaigning.
He also served on London County Council from 1889 to 1906. He was chairman of the National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations from 1895, chairman of the Conservative Party Publication Committee from 1896, and vice-chairman of the Primrose League from 1901. He founded the United Empire Trade League in 1891 and served as its honorary secretary until his death. In 1898 he was appointed to the Royal Commission organising the United Kingdom's participation in the Paris Exhibition of 1900. In 1901 he chaired an inquiry into the Royal Irish Constabulary and the Dublin Metropolitan Police. He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of the County of London in 1889 and was granted the honorary rank of Colonel in 1894.
Vincent was knighted in 1896 and appointed Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1898 for his service as British delegate to a conference on anarchists in Rome. He was selected to command the infantry of the City Imperial Volunteers in the Second Boer War, but was eventually refused permission to go due to a heart problem. He went in a private capacity anyway, however. He was awarded the Volunteer Officers' Decoration, and appointed Aide-de-Camp to the King, and Colonel in the Volunteer Force in 1901. He resigned his commission for the final time in 1904, retaining his rank. He retained his Parliamentary seat until his death on 7 April 1908.
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Famous quotes containing the word politician:
“A politician is a man who understands government and it takes a politician to run a government. A statesman is a politician who’s been dead ten or fifteen years.”
—Harry S. Truman (1884–1972)
“a politician is an arse upon
which everyone has sat except a man.”
—E.E. (Edward Estlin)
“The politician who never made a mistake never made a decision.”
—John Major (b. 1943)