Sir George Heynes Radford JP (17 June 1851 – 5 October 1917) was an English solicitor and Liberal politician. He was a member of parliament for Islington East from 1906 to 1917.

Radford was born in Plymouth,^[2] the eldest son of George David Radford and Catherine Agnes Heynes.^[3] He went to London University to study law, where he graduated Bachelor of Laws with honours.^[4] In 1882, he married Emma Louisa Radford, the daughter of a Justice of the Peace. They had four daughters and a son; Barbara, Katherine, Cecily, Ursula and George Lawrence.^[5]

Radford was admitted as a solicitor in 1872.^[2] He joined the firm of Radford and Frankland which had its offices in Chancery Lane, eventually becoming senior partner.^[3]

Radford was first involved in London local politics. He was Progressive Party member for West Islington on the London County Council from 1885 to 1907.^[6] In the 1906 general election he became MP for Islington East, a seat he went on to hold, albeit by small majorities, until his death in 1917.^[7] Radford always took a prominent part in London County Council elections and was for two years Chairman of the Council's Parliamentary Committee.^[2]

Radford served as Chairman of the National Liberal Club Buildings Co. Ltd and was a Vice-Chairman of the Club.^[8] He also served as a Justice of the Peace in Surrey, where he had his home at Ditton Hill, now part of Surbiton. He was knighted in the 1916 Birthday Honours.^[2]

Radford had a particular interest in transport in London and a passion for tramways. He noted the advanced use of trams in Budapest and led a British Parliamentary delegation to Hungary in 1906. In 1908, the first cross-river tram in London departed from Holborn Station and it is believed that Radford was responsible for the honour of the maiden trip starting in Islington.^[6]

A collection of scrapbooks of news cuttings, notices, posters etc. donated by Miss U Radford in 1975, documenting Radford's career is deposited in the London Metropolitan Archives .^[9] A collection of documents including correspondence, books, photographs, campaign flyers etc. belonging to George Radford and several family members is deposited in the Islington Local History Centre Archive.^[10]

Radford had an interest in literature and published occasional verses and essays. In 1894 he wrote Shylock and Others a selection of eight literary studies (published by T Fisher Unwin) and in 1917 he published Verses and Versicles (T Fisher Unwin). But he also had an interest in Shakespeare. In 1884, the Liberal politician Augustine Birrell published a collection of essays entitled Obiter Dicta (Elliot Stock). Radford had anonymously written one of the essays, on Sir John Falstaff, and this was made public in 1887.^[11]

Radford died at his residence, Chiswick House, Ditton Hill on 5 October 1917, aged 66 years.^[2]