Harry Vanderpant

Sir Harry Sheil Elster Vanderpant (20 October 1866 - 20 March 1955) was a barrister, businessman and politician active in the Westminster area.

Born near Bond Street, Vanderpant was privately educated before becoming secretary to Henry L Florence, architect, in 1890.

He subsequently studied law and was called to the bar at Gray's Inn in 1919.

In 1928 he was elected unopposed to Westminster City Council to represent the Grosvenor ward as a Municipal Reform Party councillor. He was re-elected unopposed in 1931 and 1934.

In May 1937 he was elected chairman of the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee and one of the appointing trustees of the the London Passenger Transport Board. He was elected Mayor of Westminster for 1937-38, and was re-elected to the city council unopposed in 1937.

In November 1937, as Mayor of Westminster, he welcomed the King of the Belgians to the city. he was conferred with the insignia of a Commander of the Order of Leopold. He was knighted in the 1939 New Years Honours.

Vanderpant retired from local politics in 1948 and died in Mayfair in 1955, aged 88. He was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium.