Arthur Irvine
Encyclopedia
Sir Arthur James Irvine, QC
(14 July 1909 – 15 December 1978) was a British
politician.
Irvine was educated at Edinburgh Academy
and Oriel College, Oxford, where he was president of the Oxford Union
in 1932. He became a barrister
in 1935, when he was called by Middle Temple
, and became secretary to the Lord Chief Justice 1935-40. He became Queen's Counsel
in 1958 and recorder
of Colchester
in 1965.
In 1937, Irvine stood as a Liberal candidate at Bethnal Green North East in the London County Council elections.
In his first two unsuccessful parliamentary contests in Kincardine and West Aberdeenshire in 1935 and 1939, Irvine was a Liberal Party
candidate, but later joined the Labour Party
. After two further election defeats in Twickenham
in 1945 and Aberdeen South
in 1946, he was eventually elected Member of Parliament
(MP) for Liverpool Edge Hill
at the 1947 by-election
.
Sir Arthur was Solicitor General
from 1967 to 1970. After his death in 1978, aged 69, the resulting by-election in his constituency
was won by the Liberal candidate David Alton
.
Irvine was the father of Conservative MP for Ipswich
Michael Irvine
.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(14 July 1909 – 15 December 1978) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
politician.
Irvine was educated at Edinburgh Academy
Edinburgh Academy
The Edinburgh Academy is an independent school which was opened in 1824. The original building, in Henderson Row on the northern fringe of the New Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, is now part of the Senior School...
and Oriel College, Oxford, where he was president of the Oxford Union
Oxford Union
The Oxford Union Society, commonly referred to simply as the Oxford Union, is a debating society in the city of Oxford, Britain, whose membership is drawn primarily but not exclusively from the University of Oxford...
in 1932. He became a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
in 1935, when he was called by Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
, and became secretary to the Lord Chief Justice 1935-40. He became Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1958 and recorder
Recorder
The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes—whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle. The recorder is end-blown and the mouth of the instrument is constricted by a wooden plug, known as a block or fipple...
of Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
in 1965.
In 1937, Irvine stood as a Liberal candidate at Bethnal Green North East in the London County Council elections.
In his first two unsuccessful parliamentary contests in Kincardine and West Aberdeenshire in 1935 and 1939, Irvine was a Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
candidate, but later joined the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
. After two further election defeats in Twickenham
Twickenham (UK Parliament constituency)
Twickenham is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
in 1945 and Aberdeen South
Aberdeen South (UK Parliament constituency)
Aberdeen South is a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and it elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
in 1946, he was eventually elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Liverpool Edge Hill
Liverpool Edge Hill (UK Parliament constituency)
Liverpool Edge Hill was a borough constituency within the city and metropolitan borough of Liverpool, in the English county of Merseyside, centred around Edge Hill...
at the 1947 by-election
Liverpool Edge Hill by-election, 1947
The Liverpool Edge Hill by-election, 1947 was a parliamentary by-election held in England to elect a new Member of Parliament for the British House of Commons constituency of Liverpool Edge Hill on 11 September 1947...
.
Sir Arthur was Solicitor General
Solicitor General for England and Wales
Her Majesty's Solicitor General for England and Wales, often known as the Solicitor General, is one of the Law Officers of the Crown, and the deputy of the Attorney General, whose duty is to advise the Crown and Cabinet on the law...
from 1967 to 1970. After his death in 1978, aged 69, the resulting by-election in his constituency
Liverpool Edge Hill by-election, 1979
The Liverpool Edge Hill by-election of 1979 was a parliamentary by-election held in England on 29 March 1979 to elect a new Member of Parliament for the House of Commons constituency of Liverpool Edge Hill....
was won by the Liberal candidate David Alton
David Alton, Baron Alton of Liverpool
David Patrick Paul Alton, Baron Alton of Liverpool is a British politician. He is a former Liberal Party and later Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament who now sits as cross bench member of the House of Lords. He was made a Life peer as Baron Alton of Liverpool, of Mossley Hill in the County of...
.
Irvine was the father of Conservative MP for Ipswich
Ipswich (UK Parliament constituency)
Ipswich is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
Michael Irvine
Michael Irvine
Michael Fraser Irvine is a former British Conservative Party politician and the son of Labour Member of Parliament Sir Arthur Irvine, QC, who was Solicitor General....
.