Identification of Metropolitan Commissioners
Given the names of commissioners in the appointments lists, one still had
to find out who they were, and ambiguities of identification arose when a
person or persons with that or a similar name was traced, but one could not
be sure if he or one of them (and which one) was the commissioners.
Fortunately most names allowed precise identification. There were no
problems with the professional commissioners.
There were no ambiguities when the appointments list name included: Rt
Hon; Hon; Sir; Bt or MP. These limited the
choice of person to limited lists, and proved sufficient to remove any
ambiguity. The absence of a limiting title meant the choice was open ended.
Below I list the seventeen honorary commissioners without these titles,
with the reasons for my identification. I have marked with an asterisk the
six about whose identification some ambiguity
Clitherow: Clearly identified from
biographical circumstances
Rev. Campbell The distinctiveness of his name
and title together
Dowdeswell Because there was an MP of that
name
Perceval Because there was an MP of that
name
Rev. Shepherd The distinctiveness of
the title "Rev. Dr."
Vernon Smith identified himself as a
commissioner in Hansard
Acklom * Click on the link for identification
problems
G. Clive * Balance of probability. No rival
contender
Halswell * Identified as a Metropolitan
Commissioner in Alumni
Cantabrigienses
J.A. Smith Because there was an MP of that
name
Sykes published a paper as a commissioner.
Also his biographies identify him.
E.B. Clive * I identified with the MP. Click
on link to see problems.
Sharp * Click on the link for identification
problems
Barneby MP of that name and biographical
circumstances
Milnes Gaskell Distinctive name, MP of that
name and biographical circumstances
Barlow is identified in
Parliamentary Papers after 1845
Gowen * Click on the link for identification
problems