Henry Hepburne-Scott, 10th Lord Polwarth
Encyclopedia
Henry Alexander Hepburne-Scott, 10th Lord Polwarth TD
(17 November 1916-4 January 2005), was a Scottish
chartered accountant, businessman and Conservative
politician.
Polwarth was the eldest son of the Hon. Walter Thomas Hepburne-Scott, Master of Polwarth, son of Walter Hepburn-Scott, 9th Lord Polwarth. His paternal grandmother Edith Frances was the daughter of Sir Thomas Buxton, 3rd Baronet, and the great-granddaughter of the social reformer Sir Thomas Buxton, 1st Baronet. He was educated at Eton
and King's College, Cambridge
, and served in the Second World War as a Captain in the Lothians and Border Horse and as an Aide-de-Camp
to Major-General Percy Hobart
and to Major-General Brian Horrocks
. In 1944 he succeeded his grandfather in the lordship, his father having died in 1942 from an illness contracted during the Second World War. In 1945 he was elected a Scottish Representative Peer
.
Polwarth was a partner in the firm of Cheine & Tait, chartered accountants, from 1950 to 1968, a Director of Imperial Chemical Industries
from 1969 to 1972 and Chairman of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry
from 1956 to 1966 and its President from 1966 to 1972. In 1968 he was appointed Chairman of the General Accident Insurance Group, a post he held until 1972. He was also a Director of the Bank of Scotland
between 1950 and 1971 and 1974 and 1981 and served as its Governor between 1968 to 1972. In 1972 he was made Minister of State for Scotland in the Conservative administration
headed by Edward Heath
, a post he held until the Conservatives lost power in 1974. Polwarth then returned to business and was again a Director of Imperial Chemical Industries from 1974 to 1981 and also of the Sun Life Assurance Co
of Canada
from 1975 to 1984, of the Canadian Pacific Railway
from 1975 to 1986 and of Halliburton Co
from 1974 to 1987. From 1984 to 1985 he was a member of the House of Lords Select Committee on Overseas Trade but lost his seat in the House of Lords
after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999
. Apart from his career in industry and politics he was Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen
from 1966 to 1986.
Lord Polwarth married firstly Caroline Margaret, daughter of Captain Robert Athole Hay, in 1943. They had one son and three daughters but were divorved in 1969 (she died in 1982). He married secondly Jean, daughter of Admiral Sir Angus Edward Malise Bontine Cunninghame Graham
of Gartmore and of Ardoch, and former wife of Charles Jauncey
, in 1969. Polwarth died in January 2005, aged 88, and was succeeded by his only son Andrew.
Territorial Decoration
The Territorial Decoration was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army...
(17 November 1916-4 January 2005), was a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
chartered accountant, businessman and 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...
politician.
Polwarth was the eldest son of the Hon. Walter Thomas Hepburne-Scott, Master of Polwarth, son of Walter Hepburn-Scott, 9th Lord Polwarth. His paternal grandmother Edith Frances was the daughter of Sir Thomas Buxton, 3rd Baronet, and the great-granddaughter of the social reformer Sir Thomas Buxton, 1st Baronet. He was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and King's College, Cambridge
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
, and served in the Second World War as a Captain in the Lothians and Border Horse and as an Aide-de-Camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to Major-General Percy Hobart
Percy Hobart
Major-General Sir Percy Cleghorn Stanley Hobart KBE CB DSO MC , also known as "Hobo", was a British military engineer, noted for his command of the 79th Armoured Division during World War II...
and to Major-General Brian Horrocks
Brian Horrocks
Lieutenant-General Sir Brian Gwynne Horrocks, KCB, KBE, DSO, MC was a British Army officer. He is chiefly remembered as the commander of XXX Corps in Operation Market Garden and other operations during the Second World War...
. In 1944 he succeeded his grandfather in the lordship, his father having died in 1942 from an illness contracted during the Second World War. In 1945 he was elected a Scottish Representative Peer
Representative peer
In the United Kingdom, representative peers were those peers elected by the members of the Peerage of Scotland and the Peerage of Ireland to sit in the British House of Lords...
.
Polwarth was a partner in the firm of Cheine & Tait, chartered accountants, from 1950 to 1968, a Director of Imperial Chemical Industries
Imperial Chemical Industries
Imperial Chemical Industries was a British chemical company, taken over by AkzoNobel, a Dutch conglomerate, one of the largest chemical producers in the world. In its heyday, ICI was the largest manufacturing company in the British Empire, and commonly regarded as a "bellwether of the British...
from 1969 to 1972 and Chairman of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry
Scottish Council for Development and Industry
The Scottish Council for Development and Industry , founded in 1931, is a non-governmental, membership organisation which aims to strengthen Scotland’s economic competitiveness through influencing government and key stakeholders to create sustainable economic prosperity for Scotland.SCDI has about...
from 1956 to 1966 and its President from 1966 to 1972. In 1968 he was appointed Chairman of the General Accident Insurance Group, a post he held until 1972. He was also a Director of the Bank of Scotland
Bank of Scotland
The Bank of Scotland plc is a commercial and clearing bank based in Edinburgh, Scotland. With a history dating to the 17th century, it is the second oldest surviving bank in what is now the United Kingdom, and is the only commercial institution created by the Parliament of Scotland to...
between 1950 and 1971 and 1974 and 1981 and served as its Governor between 1968 to 1972. In 1972 he was made Minister of State for Scotland in the Conservative administration
Conservative Government 1970-1974
Members of the Cabinet are in bold face.incompleteSource: D. Butler and G. Butler, Twentieth Century British Political Facts 1900-2000...
headed by Edward Heath
Edward Heath
Sir Edward Richard George "Ted" Heath, KG, MBE, PC was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as Leader of the Conservative Party ....
, a post he held until the Conservatives lost power in 1974. Polwarth then returned to business and was again a Director of Imperial Chemical Industries from 1974 to 1981 and also of the Sun Life Assurance Co
Sun Life Financial
Sun Life Financial Inc. is an international financial services company known primarily as a life insurance company. Based in Toronto, Canada, Sun Life and its partners provide insurance, retirement and investment solutions for individuals and businesses around the world including Canada, the United...
of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
from 1975 to 1984, of the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
from 1975 to 1986 and of Halliburton Co
Halliburton
Halliburton is the world's second largest oilfield services corporation with operations in more than 70 countries. It has hundreds of subsidiaries, affiliates, branches, brands and divisions worldwide and employs over 50,000 people....
from 1974 to 1987. From 1984 to 1985 he was a member of the House of Lords Select Committee on Overseas Trade but lost his 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....
after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999
House of Lords Act 1999
The House of Lords Act 1999 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that was given Royal Assent on 11 November 1999. The Act reformed the House of Lords, one of the chambers of Parliament. For centuries, the House of Lords had included several hundred members who inherited their seats;...
. Apart from his career in industry and politics he was Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
from 1966 to 1986.
Lord Polwarth married firstly Caroline Margaret, daughter of Captain Robert Athole Hay, in 1943. They had one son and three daughters but were divorved in 1969 (she died in 1982). He married secondly Jean, daughter of Admiral Sir Angus Edward Malise Bontine Cunninghame Graham
Angus Cunninghame Graham
Admiral Sir Angus Edward Malise Bontine Cunninghame Graham of Gartmore and Ardoch KBE CB was a Royal Navy officer who became Flag Officer, Scotland.-Naval career:...
of Gartmore and of Ardoch, and former wife of Charles Jauncey
Charles Jauncey, Baron Jauncey of Tullichettle
Charles Eliot Jauncey, Baron Jauncey of Tullichettle PC was a British judge and advocate. He was often praised as one of the finest legal minds of his generation in Scotland, and his legal opinions - both as a practising advocate and as a judge - commanded immense respect.-Biography:Jauncey was...
, in 1969. Polwarth died in January 2005, aged 88, and was succeeded by his only son Andrew.