A catalogue of notable Middle Templars, with brief biographical notices/Ayrton, Acton Smee
Admitted 2 May, 1850.
Third son of Frederick Ayrton, of Bombay, and a Barrister of Gray's Inn. Before his entry to the Temple he had been a solicitor at Bombay. After his call to the Bar, 30 April, 1853, he devoted himself to politics and entered Parliament as a Liberal for the Tower Hamlets (1857). He interested himself greatly in London Municipal Reform, and in 1868 was made Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury. In 1869 he was made a Privy Councillor and First Commissioner of Works. In the latter position he showed great zeal for economy and made many enemies, which led to his transfer to the post of Judge-Advocate-General in 1873. With the fall of Mr. Gladstone's ministry in 1874 his political career came to an end. He died at Bournemouth, 30 Nov. 1886.