Edward Sanders

Edward Andrew Sanders was born in Exeter on 2 March 1813. He was one of eight children of Edward Lloyd Sanders, an Exeter banker, and his wife Isabella, daughter of the Archdeacon of Barnstaple.

He was educated at Harrow School and Oxford University. At both school and university he was an enthusiastic cricketer, captaining his school side and earning a blue at Oxford.

Banking career

In 1835 Sanders became a partner in the family banking firm of Sanders & Co, where his father was senior partner. He was the third generation of his family in the bank, his grandfather having been one of its founders in 1769.

Sanders became senior partner of the bank in 1846. He held that post until 1902, when the bank was acquired by the larger bank Prescott, Dimsdale, Cave, Tugwell & Co. Even then, Sanders continued to attend to business at the Exeter office until autumn 1904, not long before his death.

Politics

Although Sanders himself never stood for election, he was actively involved in Conservative politics in Exeter. One contemporary described him as ‘the guiding influence in the Exeter Conservative party.’

He first took part in electioneering for the Conservative party at the 1832 election. Three years later he seconded the nomination of Sir William Follett as the Conservative candidate for Exeter, and for the next 60 years he chaired the local Conservative candidates committees.

Other roles and interests

Edward Sanders’ other offices and appointments included:

• Justice of the Peace for Exeter
• Alderman of Exeter
• Mayor of Exeter, 1850-1
• Deputy Lieutenant of Devon
• Chairman of Exeter High School for Girls
• Chairman of the Committee of Visitors at Exeter County Asylum
• President of the Devon and Exeter Hospital, 1878
• Member of the Devon & Exeter Institution

He was a trustee for numerous institutions in the Exeter area and subscribed to many charitable appeals.

For 40 years he was an officer in the 1st Royal Devonshire Yeomanry.

He was a keen churchman, and was actively involved in the restoration of Exeter Cathedral, contributing time and money to fundraising for a new organ and windows and the rehanging of the bells.

Family life

On 14 June 1848 Sanders married Marianne Ford, daughter of the Reverend James Ford and sister-in-law of Thomas Hughes, the author of Tom Brown’s Schooldays. Together they had two children: Isabella, born 1850, and Edward James, born 1853.

The family lived at Stoke Hill, Exeter.

In 1877 Edward James Sanders joined his father in the banking partnership.

In later years, Edward Andrew Sanders’ eyesight deteriorated. He lost the sight of one eye entirely, but specialist treatment in Germany was successful in saving the other.

Death

Until as late as autumn 1904, when he was 91 years old, Sanders continued to attend business at the bank daily. Around then, however, his health went into rapid decline, precipitated by a cold and much worsened by the shock of his son Edward's sudden death.

He died on 20 March 1905 at the age of 92, and was buried in Heavitree churchyard.

Related publications

• Exeter and the Exeter Bank, 1769-1969 (privately published by National Provincial Bank, 1969)
• J Ryton, Banks and Banknotes of Exeter, 1769-1906 (privately published, 1983)