Harry Nathan, 1st Baron Nathan
Encyclopedia
Harry Louis Nathan, 1st Baron Nathan, PC
(2 February 1889 – 23 October 1963) was a Liberal
politician, who later joined the Labour Party
.
Born in London in 1889, son of Michael Henry Nathan, a fine art publisher and J.P.
. Educated at St Paul's School, he became a solicitor and member of the firm of Herbert Oppenheimer Nathan and Vandyk. He became honorary secretary of the Brady Working Lads' Club, the oldest and largest of the London Jewish Lads' Clubs.
Nathan served in World War I
, leaving with the rank of Major. He acted as honorary solicitor to the Land and Nation League.
He stood as a Liberal without success in the 1924 general election
for Whitechapel and St. George's. He was first elected in 1929 as Member of Parliament
(MP)for Bethnal Green North East
and was re-elected in 1931. In 1934, he defected to the Labour Party. Although Labour won the seat at the 1935 general election
, Nathan was not their candidate, opting instead to stand in Cardiff South
. He lost by just 541 votes.
In 1937, Nathan was able to return to Parliament in a by-election
in Wandsworth Central
as the Labour candidate. He in turn stepped down in 1940 to make way for Ernest Bevin
, and was created a hereditary peer
as 1st Baron Nathan
of Churt in the County of Surrey - which he never visited nor contributed to - in 1940. He continued in active politics from the House of Lords
, serving as Under-Secretary of State for War
(1945-46 and Minister for Civil Aviation (4 October 1946 - 31 May 1948). He was made a Privy Counsellor
in 1946.
His wife Eleanor Nathan served on the London County Council
. He was succeeded to the barony by his son Roger
( 1922-2007).
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...
(2 February 1889 – 23 October 1963) was a Liberal
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, who 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...
.
Born in London in 1889, son of Michael Henry Nathan, a fine art publisher and J.P.
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...
. Educated at St Paul's School, he became a solicitor and member of the firm of Herbert Oppenheimer Nathan and Vandyk. He became honorary secretary of the Brady Working Lads' Club, the oldest and largest of the London Jewish Lads' Clubs.
Nathan served in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, leaving with the rank of Major. He acted as honorary solicitor to the Land and Nation League.
He stood as a Liberal without success in the 1924 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1924
- Seats summary :- References :* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* - External links :* * *...
for Whitechapel and St. George's. He was first elected in 1929 as 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 Bethnal Green North East
Bethnal Green North East (UK Parliament constituency)
Bethnal Green North East was a parliamentary constituency in London, which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
and was re-elected in 1931. In 1934, he defected to the Labour Party. Although Labour won the seat at 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...
, Nathan was not their candidate, opting instead to stand in Cardiff South
Cardiff South (UK Parliament constituency)
Cardiff South was a borough constituency in Cardiff, Wales. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
. He lost by just 541 votes.
In 1937, Nathan was able to return to Parliament in a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
in Wandsworth Central
Wandsworth Central (UK Parliament constituency)
Wandsworth Central was a parliamentary constituency in the Wandsworth district of South London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
as the Labour candidate. He in turn stepped down in 1940 to make way for Ernest Bevin
Ernest Bevin
Ernest Bevin was a British trade union leader and Labour politician. He served as general secretary of the powerful Transport and General Workers' Union from 1922 to 1945, as Minister of Labour in the war-time coalition government, and as Foreign Secretary in the post-war Labour Government.-Early...
, and was created a hereditary peer
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
as 1st Baron Nathan
Baron Nathan
Baron Nathan, of Churt in the County of Surrey, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1940 for the lawyer and politician Harry Nathan...
of Churt in the County of Surrey - which he never visited nor contributed to - in 1940. He continued in active politics from 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....
, serving as Under-Secretary of State for War
Under-Secretary of State for War
The position of Under-Secretary of State for War was a British government position, first applied to Evan Nepean . In 1801 the offices for War and the Colonies were merged and the post became that of Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies...
(1945-46 and Minister for Civil Aviation (4 October 1946 - 31 May 1948). He was made a Privy Counsellor
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...
in 1946.
His wife Eleanor Nathan served on the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
. He was succeeded to the barony by his son Roger
Roger Nathan, 2nd Baron Nathan
Roger Carol Michael Nathan, 2nd Baron Nathan was an English solicitor and hereditary peer.Nathan was the son of Harry Nathan and his wife Eleanor...
( 1922-2007).