Quick Facts
Biography
Sir William Lane-Mitchell (24 January 1861–1940) was a British Conservative Party politician. He was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Streatham in 1918, and held the seat until his resignation in 1939 by becoming Steward of the Manor of Northstead. He was also a two-term Mayor of Camberwell between 1906 and 1908 and a magistrate.
In 1884, he married Jane, daughter of William Lane of Aberdeen. Lane-Mitchell was knighted in 1921, working as a produce broker until 1923. He attained fame and fortune in the frozen food industry, especially for importing frozen rabbits. In 1919 he signed a 21-year lease on Ryecotes Mead, a large house with extensive grounds on the Dulwich Estate and famous for its previous wealthy businessmen occupants. He and Jane had three sons and four daughters, Jane dying in 1925. In 1926 he married Sarah, ex-wife of Sir Edmund Vestey and daughter of Joseph Barker of Formby, Lancashire. The couple lived in Sir Edmund's former house, Shirley, in Pampisford Road, South Croydon, until aircraft noise motivated them to move to a flat in London. Lane-Mitchell died in Herne Hill a year after his wife had moved into a nursing home, his death preceding hers by only a few days.
Two portraits of Lane-Mitchell are held by the National Portrait Gallery.