Edward Turnour, 6th Earl Winterton
Encyclopedia
Edward Turnour, 6th Earl Winterton PC
(4 April 1883 – 26 August 1962), known as Viscount Turnour until 1907, was an Irish peer and British politician in the first half of the twentieth century who achieved the rare distinction of serving as both Baby of the House
and Father of the House
at the opposite ends of his career in the House of Commons.
in a by-election in 1904 at the age of just 21, the youngest Member of Parliament
(MP) in the Commons, and remained an MP for the next 47 years. In his maiden election campaign he was aided by Roland Gwynne
. Sitting as a Conservative
, Winterton would slowly rise through the ranks, later achieving ministerial office as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for India
in 1922. In 1924 he was sworn of the Privy Council
, but it was not until 1937 when he achieved Cabinet office, and even then as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
. In 1938 he was promoted to the Cabinet and given the job of speaking in the House of Commons of behalf of the Secretary of State for Air
Viscount Swinton
. However in this role he proved a noted failure, especially in a heated debate in May 1938 which led to Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain
concluding that the Secretary of State for Air must be an MP. In July 1938 he led the British delegation to the Evian Conference
at which the problem of the Jewish refugees was debated. Thereafter, Winterton was increasingly sidelined and the following year he was dropped from the Cabinet and served in the marginal post of Paymaster-General
before leaving the government altogether.
Winterton remained a Member of Parliament
until 1951, by which time he was the MP with the longest continuous service. Since Winterton was an Irish peer, he was not entitled to an automatic seat in the House of Lords
, however, in 1952 he was created Baron Turnour in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
to allow him to sit in that body. This peerage became extinct upon his death, but his Irish peerage was able to pass to more distant relatives.
In September 1910 the mother of Ivy Gordon-Lennox
acted to contradict a rumour that her daughter was engaged to marry Winterton, going so far as to place a notice in the New York Times to say that there was no engagement. Winterton married the Hon. Cecilia Monica Wilson, daughter of the 2nd Baron Nunburnholme in 1924. The marriage was childless.
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
(4 April 1883 – 26 August 1962), known as Viscount Turnour until 1907, was an Irish peer and British politician in the first half of the twentieth century who achieved the rare distinction of serving as both Baby of the House
Baby of the House
Baby of the House is the unofficial title given to the youngest member of a parliamentary house. The term is most often applied to members of the British parliament.-Australia:In Australia the term is rarely used...
and Father of the House
Father of the House
Father of the House is a term that has by tradition been unofficially bestowed on certain members of some national legislatures, most notably the House of Commons in the United Kingdom. In some legislatures the term refers to the oldest member, but in others it refers the longest-serving member.The...
at the opposite ends of his career in the House of Commons.
Career
He was first elected for HorshamHorsham (UK Parliament constituency)
Horsham is a parliamentary 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 a by-election in 1904 at the age of just 21, the youngest 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) in the Commons, and remained an MP for the next 47 years. In his maiden election campaign he was aided by Roland Gwynne
Roland Gwynne
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Roland Vaughan Gwynne, DSO, DL, JP was Mayor of Eastbourne, Sussex, from 1928 to 1931. He was also a patient and close friend of the suspected serial killer Dr John Bodkin Adams.-Childhood:...
. Sitting as a Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
, Winterton would slowly rise through the ranks, later achieving ministerial office as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for India
Under-Secretary of State for India
This is a list of Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State and Permanent Under-Secretaries of State at the India Office during the period of British rule between 1866 and 1948, and for Burma from 1858-1948....
in 1922. In 1924 he was sworn of the Privy Council
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
, but it was not until 1937 when he achieved Cabinet office, and even then as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is, in modern times, a ministerial office in the government of the United Kingdom that includes as part of its duties, the administration of the estates and rents of the Duchy of Lancaster...
. In 1938 he was promoted to the Cabinet and given the job of speaking in the House of Commons of behalf of the Secretary of State for Air
Secretary of State for Air
The Secretary of State for Air was a cabinet level British position. The person holding this position was in charge of the Air Ministry. It was created on 10 January 1919 to manage the Royal Air Force...
Viscount Swinton
Philip Cunliffe-Lister, 1st Earl of Swinton
Philip Cunliffe-Lister, 1st Earl of Swinton GBE, CH, MC, PC , known as Philip Lloyd-Greame until 1924 and as The Viscount Swinton from 1935 until 1955, was a prominent British Conservative politician from the 1920s until the 1950s.-Background and early life:Born as Philip Lloyd-Graeme, he was the...
. However in this role he proved a noted failure, especially in a heated debate in May 1938 which led to Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain
Neville Chamberlain
Arthur Neville Chamberlain FRS was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from May 1937 to May 1940. Chamberlain is best known for his appeasement foreign policy, and in particular for his signing of the Munich Agreement in 1938, conceding the...
concluding that the Secretary of State for Air must be an MP. In July 1938 he led the British delegation to the Evian Conference
Evian Conference
The Évian Conference was convened at the initiative of US President Franklin D. Roosevelt in July 1938 to discuss the issue of increasing numbers of Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution. For eight days, from July 6 to July 13, representatives from 31 countries met at Évian-les-Bains, France...
at which the problem of the Jewish refugees was debated. Thereafter, Winterton was increasingly sidelined and the following year he was dropped from the Cabinet and served in the marginal post of Paymaster-General
Paymaster-General
HM Paymaster General is a ministerial position in the United Kingdom. The Paymaster General is in charge of the Office of HM Paymaster General , which held accounts at the Bank of England on behalf of Government departments and selected other public bodies...
before leaving the government altogether.
Winterton remained a 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,...
until 1951, by which time he was the MP with the longest continuous service. Since Winterton was an Irish peer, he was not entitled to an automatic seat in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, however, in 1952 he was created Baron Turnour in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
Peerage of the United Kingdom
The Peerage of the United Kingdom comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Act of Union in 1801, when it replaced the Peerage of Great Britain...
to allow him to sit in that body. This peerage became extinct upon his death, but his Irish peerage was able to pass to more distant relatives.
In September 1910 the mother of Ivy Gordon-Lennox
Ivy Cavendish-Bentinck, Duchess of Portland
Ivy Cavendish-Bentinck, Duchess of Portland DBE , born Ivy Gordon-Lennox, was Duchess of Portland from 1943 to 1977 and afterwards Dowager Duchess. She founded the Harley Foundation, "to encourage creativity"....
acted to contradict a rumour that her daughter was engaged to marry Winterton, going so far as to place a notice in the New York Times to say that there was no engagement. Winterton married the Hon. Cecilia Monica Wilson, daughter of the 2nd Baron Nunburnholme in 1924. The marriage was childless.