Francis Norie-Miller
Encyclopedia
Sir Francis Norie-Miller, 1st Baronet (11 March 1859 – 4 July 1947) was a British insurance company manager and Liberal
later Liberal National
politician. Although he was born in England, his chief associations were with Scotland and in particular the city of Perth
. In 1936, he was created a Baronet
with the title of Norie-Miller of Cleeve
in the New Year’s Honours List for political and public service in the County of Perth
and for his local philanthropy.
in Hertfordshire
, the son of Henry Miller, the Chief Statistical Officer for HM Customs and his wife Anne Norrie. Norie-Miller was educated privately and then trained for the law but he never practised and began a career in insurance instead. In 1884 he married Grace Harvey Day, the daughter of the vicar of Cheshunt. They had two sons, Claud, who was killed on active service in 1917 and Stanley who went on to succeed his father in the baronetcy and in business. They also had a daughter, Elwena. Norie-Miller's first wife died in 1931 and three years later he married his secretary Florence Jean Belfrage McKim, of Scone
in Perthshire
.
and for practically the next sixty years he was a chief officer of a number of insurance companies. He was particularly associated with the General Accident, Fire and Life Assurance Association, which he joined soon after it was incorporated in 1885. He played a crucial role in developing its business base in the United Kingdom and later was central in the company’s expansion overseas, most notably in the USA. Under his dynamic direction the company built up a worldwide business. He went on to be its Chairman and Managing Director. The portrait of Norie-Miller which hung in the company board room in Perth bore the legend “Founder of the Company”. One historian of the insurance industry has described Norie-Miller as one of ‘the great insurance autocrats of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries’.
for the county of Perthshire for nearly 50 years. For over 21 years he was Chairman of the School Board of Perth or of Perth County Education Authority and he was for 32 years Director (15 years Chairman) Perth Royal Infirmary
. In 1907 he was made an honorary fellow of the Educational Institute of Scotland and in 1933 he became a freeman
of the city of Perth.
as a Liberal at the 1931 general election
. The Liberal Party, led by Sir Herbert Samuel
had agreed to support the National Government of Ramsay MacDonald
at the 1931 general election, with some reservations over the traditional Liberal policy of free trade
and Norie-Miller fought the election publicly supporting the government . However the Conservatives
also supported the National Government and neither party therefore had a clear advantage with the electorate in terms of identification with the National Government.
Norie-Miller then stood down as prospective Liberal candidate for Perth and in 1934 the local Liberal Association selected James Scott
, the former Liberal MP for Kincardine and Aberdeenshire West as their new representative. In 1935, when Lord Scone succeeded his father as Earl of Mansfield and Mansfield
and went to the House of Lords
, a by-election was called for Perth. However, instead of adopting James Scott as their Parliamentary candidate, the Perth Liberals invited Norie-Miller to fight the election as they learned that Perth Conservatives were willing not to oppose him at the by-election providing he stood as a National candidate. Scott was known as a strong supporter of Free Trade whereas Norie-Miller favoured tariffs and protectionism. In a straight fight with Labour candidate Mr A McKinley, Norie-Miller won the by-election on 16 April 1935 by a majority of 9,532.
Whether Norie-Miller simply did not take to political life, or found it clashed too greatly with his business responsibilities or if he just felt he was too old at 76 to give Parliament its proper attention, he decided not to contest the 1935 general election
in November that year. There had clearly been some confusion about his candidacy and its joint support by local Liberal and Conservative Associations. Shortly before the election, a Captain Harry Houldsworth, looked set to contest the seat as a National Conservative but suddenly withdrew claiming he had misunderstood the local position and in the belief that Norie-Miller wished to continue. There was division in the Conservative ranks about whether to renew support for Norie-Miller. On 26 October, Norie-Miller did withdraw from the electoral race, citing medical reasons and the confusion of the position but the Unionists did not re-select Captain Houldsworth as their man, turning instead to Thomas Hunter
, who was described in The Times
newspaper as the Lord Provost
of Perth and who could also rely on Liberal support. So no Liberal candidate of any stripe contested the 1935 general election in Perth which was won by the Unionists in a straight fight with Labour.
where he had been a worshipper.
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...
later Liberal National
National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)
The National Liberal Party, known until 1948 as the Liberal National Party, was a liberal political party in the United Kingdom from 1931 to 1968...
politician. Although he was born in England, his chief associations were with Scotland and in particular the city of Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
. In 1936, he was created a Baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
with the title of Norie-Miller of Cleeve
Norie-Miller Baronets
The Norie-Miller Baronetcy, of Cleeve in the County of Perth, was a title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 7 February 1936 for the insurance magnate and Liberal National politician Francis Norie-Miller...
in the New Year’s Honours List for political and public service in the County of Perth
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
and for his local philanthropy.
Family and education
Norie-Miller was born at CheshuntCheshunt
Cheshunt is a town in Hertfordshire, England with a population of around 52,000 according to the United Kingdom's 2001 Census. It is a dormitory town and part of the Greater London Urban Area and London commuter belt served by Cheshunt railway station...
in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, the son of Henry Miller, the Chief Statistical Officer for HM Customs and his wife Anne Norrie. Norie-Miller was educated privately and then trained for the law but he never practised and began a career in insurance instead. In 1884 he married Grace Harvey Day, the daughter of the vicar of Cheshunt. They had two sons, Claud, who was killed on active service in 1917 and Stanley who went on to succeed his father in the baronetcy and in business. They also had a daughter, Elwena. Norie-Miller's first wife died in 1931 and three years later he married his secretary Florence Jean Belfrage McKim, of Scone
Scone, Scotland
Scone is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. The medieval village of Scone, which grew up around the monastery and royal residence, was abandoned in the early 19th century when the residents were removed and a new palace was built on the site by the Earl of Mansfield...
in Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
.
Career
Norie-Miller began his insurance career in London, then moved to GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and for practically the next sixty years he was a chief officer of a number of insurance companies. He was particularly associated with the General Accident, Fire and Life Assurance Association, which he joined soon after it was incorporated in 1885. He played a crucial role in developing its business base in the United Kingdom and later was central in the company’s expansion overseas, most notably in the USA. Under his dynamic direction the company built up a worldwide business. He went on to be its Chairman and Managing Director. The portrait of Norie-Miller which hung in the company board room in Perth bore the legend “Founder of the Company”. One historian of the insurance industry has described Norie-Miller as one of ‘the great insurance autocrats of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries’.
Public service
Norie-Miller was intimately involved with the civic life of Perth for many years. He was a Justice of the PeaceJustice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for the county of Perthshire for nearly 50 years. For over 21 years he was Chairman of the School Board of Perth or of Perth County Education Authority and he was for 32 years Director (15 years Chairman) Perth Royal Infirmary
Perth Royal Infirmary
Perth Royal Infirmary is a district hospital in Perth. The Royal Infirmary, administered by NHS Tayside, caters for both the city and wider Perth & Kinross area, with a population around 182 000, being served by the hospital.-History:...
. In 1907 he was made an honorary fellow of the Educational Institute of Scotland and in 1933 he became a freeman
Freedom of the City
Freedom of the City is an honour bestowed by some municipalities in Australia, Canada, Ireland, France, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, Gibraltar and Rhodesia to esteemed members of its community and to organisations to be honoured, often for service to the community;...
of the city of Perth.
Politics
Norie-Miller contested PerthPerth (UK Parliament constituency)
Perth was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 to 1918, 1918 to 1950, and 1997 to 2005. From 1832 to 1918 it was a burgh constituency. From 1918 to 1950, and 1997 to 2005, it was a county constituency...
as a Liberal at the 1931 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1931
The United Kingdom general election on Tuesday 27 October 1931 was the last in the United Kingdom not held on a Thursday. It was also the last election, and the only one under universal suffrage, where one party received an absolute majority of the votes cast.The 1931 general election was the...
. The Liberal Party, led by Sir Herbert Samuel
Herbert Samuel, 1st Viscount Samuel
Herbert Louis Samuel, 1st Viscount Samuel GCB OM GBE PC was a British politician and diplomat.-Early years:...
had agreed to support the National Government of Ramsay MacDonald
Ramsay MacDonald
James Ramsay MacDonald, PC, FRS was a British politician who was the first ever Labour Prime Minister, leading a minority government for two terms....
at the 1931 general election, with some reservations over the traditional Liberal policy of free trade
Free trade
Under a free trade policy, prices emerge from supply and demand, and are the sole determinant of resource allocation. 'Free' trade differs from other forms of trade policy where the allocation of goods and services among trading countries are determined by price strategies that may differ from...
and Norie-Miller fought the election publicly supporting the government . However the Conservatives
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...
also supported the National Government and neither party therefore had a clear advantage with the electorate in terms of identification with the National Government.
Norie-Miller then stood down as prospective Liberal candidate for Perth and in 1934 the local Liberal Association selected James Scott
James Scott (1876-1939)
James Scott was a Scottish lawyer and Liberal Party politician.-Family and education:James Scott was the son a railway superintendent from Forres, also named James Scott. He was educated at Forres Academy and at the University of Edinburgh and the University of London...
, the former Liberal MP for Kincardine and Aberdeenshire West as their new representative. In 1935, when Lord Scone succeeded his father as Earl of Mansfield and Mansfield
Earl of Mansfield and Mansfield
Earl of Mansfield, in the County of Nottingham, and Earl of Mansfield, of Caen Wood in the County of Middlesex, are two titles in the Peerage of Great Britain that have been united under a single holder since 1843...
and went to 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....
, a by-election was called for Perth. However, instead of adopting James Scott as their Parliamentary candidate, the Perth Liberals invited Norie-Miller to fight the election as they learned that Perth Conservatives were willing not to oppose him at the by-election providing he stood as a National candidate. Scott was known as a strong supporter of Free Trade whereas Norie-Miller favoured tariffs and protectionism. In a straight fight with Labour candidate Mr A McKinley, Norie-Miller won the by-election on 16 April 1935 by a majority of 9,532.
Whether Norie-Miller simply did not take to political life, or found it clashed too greatly with his business responsibilities or if he just felt he was too old at 76 to give Parliament its proper attention, he decided not to contest the 1935 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1935
The United Kingdom general election held on 14 November 1935 resulted in a large, though reduced, majority for the National Government now led by Conservative Stanley Baldwin. The greatest number of MPs, as before, were Conservative, while the National Liberal vote held steady...
in November that year. There had clearly been some confusion about his candidacy and its joint support by local Liberal and Conservative Associations. Shortly before the election, a Captain Harry Houldsworth, looked set to contest the seat as a National Conservative but suddenly withdrew claiming he had misunderstood the local position and in the belief that Norie-Miller wished to continue. There was division in the Conservative ranks about whether to renew support for Norie-Miller. On 26 October, Norie-Miller did withdraw from the electoral race, citing medical reasons and the confusion of the position but the Unionists did not re-select Captain Houldsworth as their man, turning instead to Thomas Hunter
Thomas Hunter (Scottish politician)
Sir Thomas Hunter was a Scottish Unionist Party politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Perth...
, who was described in The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
newspaper as the Lord Provost
Lord Provost
A Lord Provost is the figurative and ceremonial head of one of the principal cities of Scotland. Four cities, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow, have the right to appoint a Lord Provost instead of a provost...
of Perth and who could also rely on Liberal support. So no Liberal candidate of any stripe contested the 1935 general election in Perth which was won by the Unionists in a straight fight with Labour.
Death
Norie-Miller remained active in the insurance business until the time of his death, as chairman of General Accident until 1944 and as its honorary governor from 1938 until his death in 1947. He died at his home at Cleeve, Cherrybank, near Perth, on 4 July 1947, aged 88 years, and was buried at St Ninian's Cathedral, PerthSt Ninian's Cathedral, Perth
St Ninian's Cathedral or the Cathedral Church of St Ninian is a cathedral of the Scottish Episcopal Church in the Royal burgh of Perth. It is the see of the Anglican Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane, who is the ordinary of the Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane.-History:The...
where he had been a worshipper.