James Stansfeld

Sir James Stansfeld PC , was a British politician. He was appointed the first ever President of the Local Government Board in 1871, an office he held until 1874 and again briefly in 1886.

He was born at Akeds Road, Halifax, the only son of James Stansfeld , originally a member of a firm of solicitors, Stansfeld amp Craven, and subsequently countycourt judge in the district. His mother was Emma, daughter of John Ralph, minister of the NorthgateEnd Unitarian chapel, Halifax, and his sister married George Dixon. Brought up as a nonconformist, Stansfeld was in 1837 sent to University College, London, and graduated B.A. in 1840 and LL.B. in 1844. He was admitted a student of the Middle Temple onOctober 1840, and was called to the bar onJanuary 1849 he does not seem, however, to have practised as a barrister, and later in life derived his income mainly from a brewery at Fulham.

Source: Wikipedia