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Walter Forrest (July 1869 – 18 July 1939) was a British Liberal, later Liberal National politician and businessman.

Contents [hide] 1 Birth and family 2 Local politics 3 Parliamentary career 4 Leaving the Liberals 5 Yorkshire heritage 6 References 7 External links

[edit]Birth and family

Walter Forrest was the son of Sir William Forrest of Roundhay a district of Leeds.^[1] Sir William Forrest was a textile manufacturer. He was a member of Pudsey Corporation and seven timesMayor of Pudsey.

Walter Forrest married first Kate Shillings of Pudsey. She died in 1913. They had one son. He re-married in 1915, his second wife being Mary Macduff from Sheffield. Forrest was a partner in his father's woollen manufacturing business.^[2] He later developed business interests in a number of companies, including investment trusts and insurance as well as heavy industry.^[3]

[edit]Local politics

Forrest started his political career in local government. President of Pudsey Liberal Association in the 1890s, Forrest was a member of Pudsey Town Council in Yorkshire between 1900 and 1919, serving as Mayor from 1909 to 1912 and was later an Alderman. Between 1905 and 1919 he was a member of the West Riding County Council for Pudsey and Farsley. He also served as aJustice of the Peace.