Henry Wilson, Baron Wilson of Langside
Encyclopedia
Henry Stephen Wilson, Baron Wilson of Langside PC
QC
(Scot.) (21 March 1916 – 23 November 1997) was a Scottish lawyer, Labour
politician and life peer.
The son of James Wilson, solicitor, Glasgow, and Margaret Young, he was educated at the High School of Glasgow
and Glasgow University. He joined the Army in 1939 and served with the Highland Light Infantry
and Royal Armoured Corps
during World War II
. He was called to the Scottish Bar
in 1946 and served as an Advocate Depute from 1948-51 and as Sheriff Substitute at Greenock from 1955-56 and in Glasgow from 1956-65. He took silk
in 1965.
He was unsuccessful Labour
candidate for Dumfriesshire
in 1950 and 1955 and for Edinburgh West
in 1951. He remained a Labour supporter for many years until the advent of the SDP.
He was Solicitor General for Scotland
from 1965-67 and Lord Advocate
from 1967-70. He was Director of the Scottish Courts Administration
from 1971-74 and Sheriff Principal
of Glasgow and Strathkelvin, 1975-77.
He joined the Social Democratic Party
from 1981-92 and sat in the House of Lords
as a cross-bencher.
He was appointed a Privy Counsellor
in 1967 and created a life peer
as Baron Wilson of Langside, of Broughton
in the County and City of Edinburgh, in 1969.
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...
QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(Scot.) (21 March 1916 – 23 November 1997) was a Scottish lawyer, Labour
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 and life peer.
The son of James Wilson, solicitor, Glasgow, and Margaret Young, he was educated at the High School of Glasgow
High School of Glasgow
The High School of Glasgow is an independent, co-educational day school in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded as the Choir School of Glasgow Cathedral in around 1124, it is the oldest school in Scotland, and the twelfth oldest in the United Kingdom. It remained part of the Church as the city's grammar...
and Glasgow University. He joined the Army in 1939 and served with the Highland Light Infantry
Highland Light Infantry
The Highland Light Infantry was a regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1959. In 1923 the regimental title was expanded to the Highland Light Infantry ...
and Royal Armoured Corps
Royal Armoured Corps
The Royal Armoured Corps is currently a collection of ten regular regiments, mostly converted from old horse cavalry regiments, and four Yeomanry regiments of the Territorial Army...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was called to the Scottish Bar
Faculty of Advocates
The Faculty of Advocates is an independent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as advocates before the courts of Scotland, especially the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary...
in 1946 and served as an Advocate Depute from 1948-51 and as Sheriff Substitute at Greenock from 1955-56 and in Glasgow from 1956-65. He took silk
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1965.
He was unsuccessful Labour
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...
candidate for Dumfriesshire
Dumfriesshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Dumfriesshire was a county constituency represented in the of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 until 2005. It was known as Dumfries from 1950...
in 1950 and 1955 and for Edinburgh West
Edinburgh West (UK Parliament constituency)
Edinburgh West is a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom , first used in the 1885 general election...
in 1951. He remained a Labour supporter for many years until the advent of the SDP.
He was Solicitor General for Scotland
Solicitor General for Scotland
Her Majesty's Solicitor General for Scotland is one of the Law Officers of the Crown, and the deputy of the Lord Advocate, whose duty is to advise the Crown and the Scottish Government on Scots Law...
from 1965-67 and Lord Advocate
Lord Advocate
Her Majesty's Advocate , known as the Lord Advocate , is the chief legal officer of the Scottish Government and the Crown in Scotland for both civil and criminal matters that fall within the devolved powers of the Scottish Parliament...
from 1967-70. He was Director of the Scottish Courts Administration
Scottish Court Service
The Scottish Court Service is the body which is responsible for the administration of the Court system in Scotland. The Service employs over 1000 staff members in Scotland's 49 Sheriff Courts, the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary, Justice of the Peace Courts and at the Service's HQ...
from 1971-74 and Sheriff Principal
Sheriff Principal
The office of sheriff principal is unique within the judicial structure of Scotland, and it cannot therefore readily be compared with any other judicial office. It is one of great antiquity, having existed continuously since around the 11th century...
of Glasgow and Strathkelvin, 1975-77.
He joined the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (UK)
The Social Democratic Party was a political party in the United Kingdom that was created on 26 March 1981 and existed until 1988. It was founded by four senior Labour Party 'moderates', dubbed the 'Gang of Four': Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams...
from 1981-92 and sat 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....
as a cross-bencher.
He was appointed 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 1967 and 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 Wilson of Langside, of Broughton
Broughton, Edinburgh
Broughton is an ancient feudal barony today within the City of Edinburgh, Scotland that was once known for its witchcraft. Its borders are defined, approximately, as being Leith Walk in the south east, Broughton Street in the south west, Broughton Road in the north west and McDonald Road in the...
in the County and City of Edinburgh, in 1969.