Hugh Molson, Baron Molson
Encyclopedia
Hugh (Elsdale) Molson, Baron Molson PC
(29 June 1903 - 13 October 1991) was a British Conservative
politician.
Born in Chelmsford
, Essex
, the only surviving son of Major John Elsdale Molson, Member of Parliament
for Gainsborough
from 1918–23, and Mary Leeson, he was educated at the Royal Naval College, Osborne
and Dartmouth
, at Lancing
, and New College, Oxford
. He was President of the Oxford Union
in 1925. He became a Barrister-at-Law at the Inner Temple
in 1931. He worked as Political Secretary of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of India from 1926-29.
During World War II
he served with 36 Searchlight Regiment from 1939–41, and was Staff Captain 11 AA, Division from 1941-42.
He was unsuccessful Conservative
candidate in Aberdare
in 1929, and sat as Member of Parliament
(MP) for Doncaster
from 1931–35 and for High Peak
, Derbyshire from 1939-61. He held Ministerial office as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works from 1951–53, Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation from November 1953-January 1957, and as Minister of Works
from 1957-October 1959. He was a Member of the Monckton Commission on Rhodesia and Nyasaland in 1960, and Chairman of the Commission of Privy Counsellors on the dispute between Buganda
and Bunyoro
in 1962.
He was appointed a Privy Counsellor
in 1956, and was created a Life Peer
in 1961 as Baron Molson, of High Peak in the County of Derbyshire.
In later life he was Chairman (1968–71) and President (1971–80) of the Council for the Protection of Rural England. He died in Westminster
in 1991 aged 88.
At Lancing he was a contemporary and close friend of Evelyn Waugh
, and known as "Luncher". To the young Waugh he represented a figure of louche daring, as evidenced by many suggestive but mostly inexplicit references in his published Letters and Diaries. They were less close from Oxford onwards.
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...
(29 June 1903 - 13 October 1991) was a British 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.
Born in Chelmsford
Chelmsford
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, the only surviving son of Major John Elsdale Molson, 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,...
for Gainsborough
Gainsborough (UK Parliament constituency)
Gainsborough 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....
from 1918–23, and Mary Leeson, he was educated at the Royal Naval College, Osborne
Osborne House
Osborne House is a former royal residence in East Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK. The house was built between 1845 and 1851 for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert as a summer home and rural retreat....
and Dartmouth
Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College is the initial officer training establishment of the Royal Navy, located on a hill overlooking Dartmouth, Devon, England. While Royal Naval officer training has taken place in the town since 1863, the buildings which are seen today were only finished in 1905, and...
, at Lancing
Lancing College
Lancing College is a co-educational English independent school in the British public school tradition, founded in 1848 by Nathaniel Woodard. Woodard's aim was to provide education "based on sound principle and sound knowledge, firmly grounded in the Christian faith." Lancing was the first of a...
, and New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
. He was President of the Oxford Union
Oxford Union
The Oxford Union Society, commonly referred to simply as the Oxford Union, is a debating society in the city of Oxford, Britain, whose membership is drawn primarily but not exclusively from the University of Oxford...
in 1925. He became a Barrister-at-Law at the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1931. He worked as Political Secretary of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of India from 1926-29.
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 served with 36 Searchlight Regiment from 1939–41, and was Staff Captain 11 AA, Division from 1941-42.
He was unsuccessful 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...
candidate in Aberdare
Aberdare (UK Parliament constituency)
Aberdare was a constituency in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was created for the 1918 general election and returned one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system until it was abolished for the 1983 general election....
in 1929, and sat 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 Doncaster
Doncaster (UK Parliament constituency)
Doncaster was a Parliamentary constituency covering the town of Doncaster in England. The constituency was created in 1885 and abolished in 1983.- Boundaries :...
from 1931–35 and for High Peak
High Peak (UK Parliament constituency)
- Elections in the 2000s :- Elections in the 1990s :- Elections in the 1980s :-Elections in the 1970s:-Elections in the 1960s:...
, Derbyshire from 1939-61. He held Ministerial office as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works from 1951–53, Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation from November 1953-January 1957, and as Minister of Works
First Commissioner of Works
The First Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings was a position within the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It took over some of the functions of the First Commissioner of Woods and Forests in 1851 when the portfolio of Crown holdings was divided into the public...
from 1957-October 1959. He was a Member of the Monckton Commission on Rhodesia and Nyasaland in 1960, and Chairman of the Commission of Privy Counsellors on the dispute between Buganda
Buganda
Buganda is a subnational kingdom within Uganda. The kingdom of the Ganda people, Buganda is the largest of the traditional kingdoms in present-day Uganda, comprising all of Uganda's Central Region, including the Ugandan capital Kampala, with the exception of the disputed eastern Kayunga District...
and Bunyoro
Bunyoro
Bunyoro is a kingdom in Western Uganda. It was one of the most powerful kingdoms in East Africa from the 16th to the 19th century. It is ruled by the Omukama of Bunyoro...
in 1962.
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 1956, and 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...
in 1961 as Baron Molson, of High Peak in the County of Derbyshire.
In later life he was Chairman (1968–71) and President (1971–80) of the Council for the Protection of Rural England. He died in Westminster
City of Westminster
The City of Westminster is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary...
in 1991 aged 88.
At Lancing he was a contemporary and close friend of Evelyn Waugh
Evelyn Waugh
Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh , known as Evelyn Waugh, was an English writer of novels, travel books and biographies. He was also a prolific journalist and reviewer...
, and known as "Luncher". To the young Waugh he represented a figure of louche daring, as evidenced by many suggestive but mostly inexplicit references in his published Letters and Diaries. They were less close from Oxford onwards.
Notable Quotes
- "I will look at any additional evidence to confirm the opinion to which I have already come."