Seely was a Liberal Unionist for the early part of his political career. He first stood for election to Parliament at the 1886 general election, when he unsuccessfully contested Mid Derbyshire. He stood for Rushcliffe at the 1892 election without success, but won a seat in Lincoln at the 1895 election, which his grandfather Charles Seely had represented until 1885 as a Liberal. He was re-elected again in 1900 with Conservative backing. However, in February 1904 he lost the backing of the local Conservative and Liberal Unionist Association over his support for free trade. The Conservatives adopted Henry Page Croft as their candidate in place of Seely, who stood in the 1906 general election as a Free Trade candidate.
Despite this setback, he again stood for Lincoln in the General Election of January 1910 as a Liberal Unionist in support of Free Trade and was again opposed by a Liberal and a Conservative. This time he finished in third place and did not stand for Parliament again for another six years. He instead served as High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire for 1912.
Victor Basil John Seely (1900–1980), who inherited the baronetcy on the death of his brother Hugh, and whose son SIr Nigel Edward Seely (b. 1923) is the 5th of the Seely baronets
Squadron Leader Nigel Richard William Seely (1902–1943), who married Isabella Elinor Margarete von Rieben, of the old noble family of von Rieben [de]. He was killed in action in World War II, and was buried at St Mary's Church, Brook, on the Isle of Wight.[8] Their son Hilton Nigel Matthew Seely married 1971 Leonie Mary Taylor, daughter of Brigadier George Taylor CBE, DSO & Bar, KHS
^ abCraig, F. W. S. (1989) [1974]. British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 137, 366. ISBN0-900178-27-2.
^Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 444. ISBN0-900178-06-X.
^Harris, Oliver D. (2018). "A crusading 'captain in khaki': Sir Thomas Brock's monument to Charles Grant Seely at Gatcombe (Isle of Wight)". Church Monuments. 33: 97–120.
Cokayne, G. E.; et al., eds. (2000). The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant. Vol. XIII. Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors (new 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959); reprint in 6 volumes ed.). Gloucester, England: Alan Sutton Publishing. p. 73.
"Parishes: Mottistone". A History of the County of Hampshire: Volume 5 (1912). British History Online (Institute of Historical Research and the History of Parliament Trust). pp. 246–249. Retrieved 7 May 2009.
