John Henry Puleston MP. 1874-1892
John Henry Puleston was elected MP for Devonport in 1874 and remained so until 1892. He was knighted in 1887. His image together with the first article below was published in
the
Illustrated London News 1st August 1874.
QUOTE Mr John Henry Pulston, of Marden Park Surrey, and of Brynogian (sp), North Wales, is
a partner in the London banking-house of McColloch and O(?), of Lombard Street. He
is eldest son of the late Mr John Puleston of Plasnewydd, near Ruthin, Wales, and
was born in the year 1830. He was educated at the grammar school of Ruthin, and
subsequently at King's College School, London. In 1857 he married Margaret, daughter
of the the Rev. Edward Lloyd of Llanfyllyn, Montgomeryshire. He resided many years
in the United States, where he was actively engaged in journalism and in financial
business. He has therefore a perfect familiarity with American interests, and his
election has been faourably commented on by the American press.
He was invited to contest the representation of his native county, Denbighshire, as the colleague of
Sir W.W. Wynn, but declined. Mr Puleston belongs to the conservative party.
UNQUOTE
As a young man Puleston went to America and opened a successful medical practice
in New York. He began to have an interest in politics at this stage and whilst in
New York became involved with the Republican Party. He appeared to be successful
at everything he attempted, as he then took a career as a journalist, becoming editor
of several newspapers including the Phoenixville Guardian (but he apparently left
this town with debts behind him).
In due course he became well known in American political circles and was made military
agent for the state of Pennsylvania at the rank of Colonel. Puleston undertook yet
more work opportunities while in America as he eventually became a broker on Wall
Street. Having thus made many contacts with bankers he finally returned to London
A few years after becoming Devonport's MP, Puleston returned to America and repaid all his previous debts.
However, he probably got into more debt during this period since he eventually died a bankrupt.
See
Wikipedia for further information.
(page added March 2012)