George Delacourt-Smith, Baron Delacourt-Smith
Encyclopedia
Charles George Percy Delacourt-Smith, Baron Delacourt-Smith PC
, JP
(25 April 1917 – 2 August 1972), commonly known as George Delacourt-Smith was a British
trade unionist and Labour Party
politician.
and named after his father, he was the only son of Charles Smith and his wife Ethel. He was educated at The Windsor Boys' School
and went then to Wadham College, Oxford
, graduating with a Master of Arts
, serving as its general secretary for the rest of his life. In 1960, he was nominated a Justice of the Peace
, assigned to the County of London
.
in July 1940. He was commissioned in January 1943 and was transferred to the Royal Army Service Corps
, where he was promoted to captain and was mentioned in despatches. After the end of the war Delacourt-Smith was admitted to the British House of Commons
in 1945, having been elected for Colchester
. He represented the constituency until 1950 and during this time was Parliamentary Private Secretary to Philip Noel-Baker
in the latter's capacity as Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations
. In 1947, he was chosen a executive member of Labour's Research Department, a position he held for the next four years.
Delacourt-Smith was created a life peer
as Baron Delacourt-Smith, of New Windsor, in the Royal County of Berkshire
in 1967 and thus was ennabled to a seat in the House of Lords
. Two years later he was appointed Minister of State for Technology and on this occasion sworn of the Privy Council
. In 1970, when the Conservative Party
took office he was replaced as Minister.
, the daughter of Frederick Hando. They both had two sons and a daughter. Together with his family, he assumed the additional surname Delacourt by a deed poll
in 1967. He died at Windsor in 1972, being survived by his wife. Two years after his death she received a life peerage in her own right. He and his wife both held noble titles in their own right.
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...
, JP
Justice 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...
(25 April 1917 – 2 August 1972), commonly known as George Delacourt-Smith 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...
trade unionist and 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...
politician.
Background and education
Born in WindsorWindsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
and named after his father, he was the only son of Charles Smith and his wife Ethel. He was educated at The Windsor Boys' School
The Windsor Boys' School
The Windsor Boys' School is an all-boys secondary school on Maidenhead Road in Windsor, Berkshire, within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Local Authority.-Admissions:...
and went then to Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, located at the southern end of Parks Road in central Oxford. It was founded by Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, wealthy Somerset landowners, during the reign of King James I...
, graduating with a Master of Arts
Working life
Delacourt-Smith worked as librarian for the Oxford Union Society until 1938, when he became employed at the New Fabian Research Bureau as a research assistant. In 1939, he came to the Civil Service Clerical Association and was an assistant secretary until 1953. Subsequently he joined the Post Office Engineering UnionPost Office Engineering Union
The Post Office Engineering Union was a trade union in the United Kingdom. It represented engineering staff in the Post Office, mostly working in telecommunications....
, serving as its general secretary for the rest of his life. In 1960, he was nominated a Justice of the Peace
Justice 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...
, assigned to the County of London
County of London
The County of London was a county of England from 1889 to 1965, corresponding to the area known today as Inner London. It was created as part of the general introduction of elected county government in England, by way of the Local Government Act 1888. The Act created an administrative County of...
.
Political career
Following the outbreak of the Second World War, Delacourt-Smith entered the Royal EngineersRoyal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
in July 1940. He was commissioned in January 1943 and was transferred to the Royal Army Service Corps
Royal Army Service Corps
The Royal Army Service Corps was a corps of the British Army. It was responsible for land, coastal and lake transport; air despatch; supply of food, water, fuel, and general domestic stores such as clothing, furniture and stationery ; administration of...
, where he was promoted to captain and was mentioned in despatches. After the end of the war Delacourt-Smith was admitted to the British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
in 1945, having been elected for Colchester
Colchester (UK Parliament constituency)
Colchester 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.-History:...
. He represented the constituency until 1950 and during this time was Parliamentary Private Secretary to Philip Noel-Baker
Philip Noel-Baker, Baron Noel-Baker
by Philip Noel-Baker with other authorsby others* Lloyd, Lorna: Philip Noel-Baker and the Peace Through Law in -External links:...
in the latter's capacity as Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations
Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations
The Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations was a British Cabinet office existing between 1947 and 1966, responsible for dealing with British relationship with members of the Commonwealth of Nations . The position was created out of the old position of Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs...
. In 1947, he was chosen a executive member of Labour's Research Department, a position he held for the next four years.
Delacourt-Smith was created a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baron Delacourt-Smith, of New Windsor, in the Royal County of Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
in 1967 and thus was ennabled to a 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....
. Two years later he was appointed Minister of State for Technology and on this occasion sworn of the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
. In 1970, when the Conservative Party
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...
took office he was replaced as Minister.
Personal life
In 1939, he married MargaretMargaret Delacourt-Smith, Baroness Delacourt-Smith of Alteryn
Margaret Rosalind Delacourt-Smith, Baroness Delacourt-Smith of Alteryn, née Hando, JP, known as Lady Delacourt-Smith from 1967 to 1974, was a British Labour politician....
, the daughter of Frederick Hando. They both had two sons and a daughter. Together with his family, he assumed the additional surname Delacourt by a deed poll
Deed poll
A deed poll is a legal document binding only to a single person or several persons acting jointly to express an active intention...
in 1967. He died at Windsor in 1972, being survived by his wife. Two years after his death she received a life peerage in her own right. He and his wife both held noble titles in their own right.
Works
- Democratic Sweden, (1938)
- Britain's Food Supplies in Peace and War, (1940)
- Modern Turkey, (1940)