Henry Edwards (1820–1897)
Sir Henry Edwards was a British Liberal Member of Parliament for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis from 1867 until 1885, when Weymouth and Melcombe Regis ceased to be a parliamentary borough.
Born in London, Edwards was the eldest son of John Edwards of Somerton Court, Somerset, and Elizabeth Brayley. He died at his home at 53 Berkeley Square, London, after several months of illness.
At the time of his death, Edwards was lauded as the most generous benefactor in the history of Weymouth. He made generous gifts to the town – ten cottage homes known as Edwards Avenue and 'Edwardsville' in Rodwell Avenue, and also properties in James Street, all designed for elderly inhabitants of the borough. Sir Henry also provided an annual dinner for the elderly of Weymouth. The properties are all today operated under the name Edwards Homes and run by Weymouth Town Charities who run the Sir Henry Edwards and the Sir Samuel Mico Charities.
The book The Rival Queens, written in 1880 by prominent Weymouth resident Joseph Drew, was dedicated to him.
