Frank Kingsley Griffith
Encyclopedia
Frank Kingsley Griffith was a British Liberal Party
politician, barrister
and County Court judge.
, Surrey
, the son of an army officer. He was educated at Marlborough and Balliol College, Oxford. In 1912 he was president of the Oxford Union
. Griffith served in the army throughout the Great War first in the Gloucestershire Regiment and then the Lincolnshire Regiment, attaining the rank of Captain. He was wounded twice and was awarded the Military Cross
. In 1915 he was called to the bar by the Inner Temple
and after the war he joined the North-Eastern Circuit.
. He was well known as a good platform performer in politics and for being an outstanding young thinker ranked alongside the likes of Elliott Dodds. He contested the Bromley division
of Kent
for the Liberal party in the general elections of 1922
, 1923
and 1924
being unsuccessful on all three occasions.
By 1927, Griffith was so well thought of in Liberal circles that he was appointed to the Liberal Organizing Committee under the Chairmanship of future party leader Herbert Samuel
along with other party luminaries such as Archie Sinclair another future leader. In March 1928 he was adopted as candidate for the by-election in the Liberal seat of Middlesbrough West
which he held
in a three cornered contest. At the previous general election (1924) the Liberal candidate was Trevelyan Thomson, who was so entrehcned in the seat that he had been unopposed. However Labour put up a strong challenge against Griffith at the by-election, losing by just 89 votes. Griffith got 36.3% of the poll, compared to Labour’s 36% and the Conservatives’ 27.8%. Griffith fought mainly on the traditional Liberal stance of Free Trade
but also called for a programme of public works together with social reform and industrial reconstruction. This platform anticipated the Liberal election manifesto of 1929 based on the ‘coloured’ books of David Lloyd George
and the economic models of John Maynard Keynes
. In fact Lloyd George turned up to speak for Griffith in the campaign, as did Herbert Samuel. In 1931-32 Griffith was parliamentary private secretary
to Sir Herbert Samuel, by then the Home Secretary
and Liberal leader. Once elected to the House of Commons he gained the respect of his peers in the Parliamentary Liberal Party, being an able speaker in the chamber with a good parliamentary style.
of Richmond, Yorkshire, from 1932–1940 and in 1940 he was appointed a County Court Judge in Hull
which required him to vacate his Commons seat and create a by-election. At this election the Liberal candidate Harcourt Johnstone
was returned unopposed under the wartime electoral truce. From 1947-1956 Griffiths was chairman of East Riding
Quarter Sessions
and he retired as a judge in January 1957.
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...
politician, 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...
and County Court judge.
Early life
Griffith was born in Upper NorwoodUpper Norwood
Upper Norwood is an elevated area in south London, England within the postcode SE19. It is a residential district largely in the London Borough of Croydon although some parts extend into the London Borough of Lambeth, London Borough of Southwark and the London Borough of Bromley. Upper Norwood...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, the son of an army officer. He was educated at Marlborough and Balliol College, Oxford. In 1912 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...
. Griffith served in the army throughout the Great War first in the Gloucestershire Regiment and then the Lincolnshire Regiment, attaining the rank of Captain. He was wounded twice and was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
. In 1915 he was called to the bar by the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
and after the war he joined the North-Eastern Circuit.
Politics
Griffith was one time chairman of the National League of Young LiberalsNational League of Young Liberals
The National League of Young Liberals , often just called the Young Liberals, was the youth wing of the British Liberal Party. It was founded in 1903 and by 1906 it had over three hundred branches. In 1934 it called for David Lloyd George to lead a Liberal New Deal revival based on the Yellow Book...
. He was well known as a good platform performer in politics and for being an outstanding young thinker ranked alongside the likes of Elliott Dodds. He contested the Bromley division
Bromley (UK Parliament constituency)
Bromley is a former borough constituency in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election. Its best-known MP was Harold Macmillan ....
of Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
for the Liberal party in the general elections of 1922
United Kingdom general election, 1922
The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John...
, 1923
United Kingdom general election, 1923
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
and 1924
United Kingdom general election, 1924
- Seats summary :- References :* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* - External links :* * *...
being unsuccessful on all three occasions.
By 1927, Griffith was so well thought of in Liberal circles that he was appointed to the Liberal Organizing Committee under the Chairmanship of future party leader 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:...
along with other party luminaries such as Archie Sinclair another future leader. In March 1928 he was adopted as candidate for the by-election in the Liberal seat of Middlesbrough West
Middlesbrough West (UK Parliament constituency)
Middlesbrough West was a parliamentary constituency in the town of Middlesbrough in North East England. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first-past-the-post voting system....
which he held
in a three cornered contest. At the previous general election (1924) the Liberal candidate was Trevelyan Thomson, who was so entrehcned in the seat that he had been unopposed. However Labour put up a strong challenge against Griffith at the by-election, losing by just 89 votes. Griffith got 36.3% of the poll, compared to Labour’s 36% and the Conservatives’ 27.8%. Griffith fought mainly on the traditional Liberal stance 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...
but also called for a programme of public works together with social reform and industrial reconstruction. This platform anticipated the Liberal election manifesto of 1929 based on the ‘coloured’ books of David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
and the economic models of John Maynard Keynes
John Maynard Keynes
John Maynard Keynes, Baron Keynes of Tilton, CB FBA , was a British economist whose ideas have profoundly affected the theory and practice of modern macroeconomics, as well as the economic policies of governments...
. In fact Lloyd George turned up to speak for Griffith in the campaign, as did Herbert Samuel. In 1931-32 Griffith was parliamentary private secretary
Parliamentary Private Secretary
A Parliamentary Private Secretary is a role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament by a senior minister in government or shadow minister to act as their contact for the House of Commons; this role is junior to that of Parliamentary Under-Secretary, which is a ministerial post, salaried by...
to Sir Herbert Samuel, by then the Home Secretary
Home Secretary
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
and Liberal leader. Once elected to the House of Commons he gained the respect of his peers in the Parliamentary Liberal Party, being an able speaker in the chamber with a good parliamentary style.
The law
In the law, Griffith was RecorderRecorder (judge)
A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...
of Richmond, Yorkshire, from 1932–1940 and in 1940 he was appointed a County Court Judge in Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
which required him to vacate his Commons seat and create a by-election. At this election the Liberal candidate Harcourt Johnstone
Harcourt Johnstone
Harcourt 'Crinks' Johnstone was a British Liberal Party politician.-Early Life & Education:Johnstone was born in London in 1895, the son of the Hon. Sir Alan Johnstone, a British diplomat, and his American wife Antoinette Pinchot. His nickname 'Crinks' is alleged to have derived from the wrinkled...
was returned unopposed under the wartime electoral truce. From 1947-1956 Griffiths was chairman of East Riding
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
Quarter Sessions
Quarter Sessions
The Courts of Quarter Sessions or Quarter Sessions were local courts traditionally held at four set times each year in the United Kingdom and other countries in the former British Empire...
and he retired as a judge in January 1957.