Horace Trevor-Cox
Encyclopedia
Horace Brimson Trevor-Cox (born Horace Brimson Trevor Cox, 14 June 1908 – 30 October 2005) was a British
farmer, landowner and politician who served from 1937 to 1945 as a Conservative
Member of Parliament
(MP), but left the Conservatives in the 1960s and subsequently joined the Labour Party
.
Born in Birkenhead
and brought up near Chester
, his father (also named Horace Cox) was a successful businessman. Cox was educated at Eton College
, where he was a good friend of his contemporary Quintin Hogg
, later Lord Hailsham. He then studied in Germany
at University of Hanover, and worked in factories in Berlin before leaving Germany in 1929 to study business studies in the United States
at the University of Cincinnati
.
constituency in the 1935 general election
, but lost to Labour
's Frank Lee. In April 1937 he contested the Cheshire constituency of Stalybridge and Hyde in a by-election
and won, with a majority of only 334 votes over the Labour candidate, Rev Gordon Lang
.
He was appointed in 1938 as a Parliamentary Private Secretary
to the Trade minister Ronald Cross, becoming the most junior member of Neville Chamberlain
's government. In his Commons speeches before the war, he drew on his experience of Germany to warning about the likelihood of war. When World War II
broke out in September 1939, Cox volunteered for the Welsh Guards
, and for the rest of the war divided his time between the army and the House of Commons.
In the Labour landslide at the 1945 general election
, Cox lost his seat by a wide margin to Rev. Gordon Lang
. He stood unsuccessfully as the Conservative candidate for Birkenhead
in the 1950 general election
but otherwise concentrated on his estates in Wiltshire
.
Dissatisfied with the Conservatives in the 1960s, he left the party and stood as an Independent Conservative candidate at the 1965 Salisbury by-election
, but won only 533 votes. He subsequently joined the Labour Party
and contested council elections in the 1970s, but never regained public office.
Trevor-Cox died over 60 years after leaving the House of Commons. He thus enjoyed the longest post-service lifespan of any former MP.
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...
farmer, landowner and politician who served from 1937 to 1945 as a 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...
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), but left the Conservatives in the 1960s and subsequently 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 Birkenhead
Birkenhead
Birkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool...
and brought up near Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
, his father (also named Horace Cox) was a successful businessman. Cox was educated at Eton College
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"....
, where he was a good friend of his contemporary Quintin Hogg
Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone
For the businessman and philanthropist, see Quintin Hogg Quintin McGarel Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone, KG, CH, PC, QC, FRS , formerly 2nd Viscount Hailsham , was a British politician who was known for the longevity of his career, the vigour with which he campaigned for the Conservative...
, later Lord Hailsham. He then studied in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
at University of Hanover, and worked in factories in Berlin before leaving Germany in 1929 to study business studies in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
.
Political career
Trevor-Cox was the Conservative candidate for the North East DerbyshireNorth East Derbyshire (UK Parliament constituency)
North East Derbyshire is a county 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.-Boundaries:...
constituency in 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...
, but lost to 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...
's Frank Lee. In April 1937 he contested the Cheshire constituency of Stalybridge and Hyde 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....
and won, with a majority of only 334 votes over the Labour candidate, Rev Gordon Lang
Gordon Lang
Rev. Gordon Lang was a Welsh Congregationalist minister and Labour Party politician. He was Member of Parliament for Oldham from 1929 to 1931, and for Stalybridge and Hyde from 1945 to 1951....
.
He was appointed in 1938 as a 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 the Trade minister Ronald Cross, becoming the most junior member of Neville Chamberlain
Neville Chamberlain
Arthur Neville Chamberlain FRS was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from May 1937 to May 1940. Chamberlain is best known for his appeasement foreign policy, and in particular for his signing of the Munich Agreement in 1938, conceding the...
's government. In his Commons speeches before the war, he drew on his experience of Germany to warning about the likelihood of war. When 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...
broke out in September 1939, Cox volunteered for the Welsh Guards
Welsh Guards
The Welsh Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division.-Creation :The Welsh Guards came into existence on 26 February 1915 by Royal Warrant of His Majesty King George V in order to include Wales in the national component to the Foot Guards, "..though the order...
, and for the rest of the war divided his time between the army and the House of Commons.
In the Labour landslide at the 1945 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
, Cox lost his seat by a wide margin to Rev. Gordon Lang
Gordon Lang
Rev. Gordon Lang was a Welsh Congregationalist minister and Labour Party politician. He was Member of Parliament for Oldham from 1929 to 1931, and for Stalybridge and Hyde from 1945 to 1951....
. He stood unsuccessfully as the Conservative candidate for Birkenhead
Birkenhead (UK Parliament constituency)
Birkenhead 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:...
in the 1950 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1950
The 1950 United Kingdom general election was the first general election ever after a full term of a Labour government. Despite polling over one and a half million votes more than the Conservatives, the election, held on 23 February 1950 resulted in Labour receiving a slim majority of just five...
but otherwise concentrated on his estates in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
.
Dissatisfied with the Conservatives in the 1960s, he left the party and stood as an Independent Conservative candidate at the 1965 Salisbury by-election
Salisbury by-election, 1965
The Salisbury by-election, 1965 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Salisbury in Wiltshire on 4 February 1965. It was won by the Conservative Party candidate Michael Hamilton.- Vacancy :...
, but won only 533 votes. He subsequently 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...
and contested council elections in the 1970s, but never regained public office.
Trevor-Cox died over 60 years after leaving the House of Commons. He thus enjoyed the longest post-service lifespan of any former MP.
External links
- Obituary of Horace Brimson Trevor-Cox (by Tam DalyellTam DalyellSir Thomas Dalyell Loch, 11th Baronet , known as Tam Dalyell, is a British Labour Party politician, who was a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons from 1962 to 2005, first for West Lothian and then for Linlithgow.-Early life:...
in The Independent)