James Meston, 1st Baron Meston
Encyclopedia
James Scorgie Meston, 1st Baron Meston KCSI
, VD
(12 June 1865-7 October 1943), was a prominent British
civil servant, financial expert and businessman. He served as Lieutenant-Governor of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh
from 1912 to 1918.
Meston was the younger son of James Meston, of Aberdeen
, and his wife Jane (née Scorgie). He was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School
and at the University of Aberdeen
, and passed the Indian civil service examination in 1883. He was posted to the North-Western Provinces and Oudh in 1885 (which later became the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh
), where he was director of land records between 1897 and 1899 and financial secretary to the government between 1899 and 1903. From 1905 to 1906 he briefly left India to act as an adviser to the Cape Colony
and Transvaal governments in South Africa
.
After his return to India in 1906, Meston was secretary to the finance department of the government of India until 1912, when he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh
. He remained in this position until 1918, when he became finance member of the Viceroy of India's executive council. Problems with his eyesight forced him to resign from this post the following year. In 1917, along with Sir Satyendra Prasanno Sinha
and Maharaja Ganga Singh
, he assisted the Secretary of State for India
in representing India in the Imperial War Cabinet and Conference.
After the war, Meston, along with Lionel Curtis
, was the main designer of the Institute of International Affairs
, and served as chairman of its first governing body from 1920 to 1926, of its publications committee and of the editorial board of International Affairs
. Apart from this Meston was also vice-chairman of the supervisory committee of the League of Nations
. He sat on the Liberal
benches in the House of Lords
and served as President of the Liberal Party organization. He was also involved in business and served as chairman and as a board member of several companies.
Meston was made a CSI
in 1908 and a KCSI
in 1911 and in 1919 he was further honoured when he was raised to the peerage as Baron Meston, of Agra in the Indian Empire and Dunottar in the County of Kincardine. He served as President of the Royal Statistical Society
from 1932 to 1934.
He married Jeanie, daughter of James McDonald, in 1891. They had two sons, of which the eldest died in childhood. Lord Meston died in October 1943, aged 78, and was succeeded in the barony by his only surviving son Dougall. Lady Meston died in 1946.
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
, VD
Volunteer Decoration
The Volunteer Officers' Decoration was created by Royal Warrant under command of Queen Victoria on 25 July 1892 to reward 'efficient and capable' officers of the Volunteer Force who had served for twenty years...
(12 June 1865-7 October 1943), was a prominent British
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...
civil servant, financial expert and businessman. He served as Lieutenant-Governor of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh
United Provinces of Agra and Oudh
The United Provinces of Agra and Oudh was a province of India under the British Raj, which existed from 1902 to 1947; the official name was shortened by the Government of India Act 1935 to United Provinces, by which the province had been commonly known, and by which name it was also a province of...
from 1912 to 1918.
Meston was the younger son of James Meston, of Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, and his wife Jane (née Scorgie). He was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School
Aberdeen Grammar School
Aberdeen Grammar School, known to students as The Grammar is a state secondary school in the City of Aberdeen, Scotland. It is one of twelve secondary schools run by the Aberdeen City Council educational department...
and at 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...
, and passed the Indian civil service examination in 1883. He was posted to the North-Western Provinces and Oudh in 1885 (which later became the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh
United Provinces of Agra and Oudh
The United Provinces of Agra and Oudh was a province of India under the British Raj, which existed from 1902 to 1947; the official name was shortened by the Government of India Act 1935 to United Provinces, by which the province had been commonly known, and by which name it was also a province of...
), where he was director of land records between 1897 and 1899 and financial secretary to the government between 1899 and 1903. From 1905 to 1906 he briefly left India to act as an adviser to the Cape Colony
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
and Transvaal governments in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
After his return to India in 1906, Meston was secretary to the finance department of the government of India until 1912, when he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh
United Provinces of Agra and Oudh
The United Provinces of Agra and Oudh was a province of India under the British Raj, which existed from 1902 to 1947; the official name was shortened by the Government of India Act 1935 to United Provinces, by which the province had been commonly known, and by which name it was also a province of...
. He remained in this position until 1918, when he became finance member of the Viceroy of India's executive council. Problems with his eyesight forced him to resign from this post the following year. In 1917, along with Sir Satyendra Prasanno Sinha
Satyendra Prasanno Sinha, 1st Baron Sinha
Satyendra Prasanno Sinha, 1st Baron Sinha of Raipur KCSI PC KC was a prominent lawyer and statesman in British India.-Background and education:...
and Maharaja Ganga Singh
Maharaja Ganga Singh
His Highness General Sir Maharaja Ganga Singh GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, GCStJ, GBE, KCB was the ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Bikaner from 1888 to 1943...
, he assisted the Secretary of State for India
Secretary of State for India
The Secretary of State for India, or India Secretary, was the British Cabinet minister responsible for the government of India and the political head of the India Office...
in representing India in the Imperial War Cabinet and Conference.
After the war, Meston, along with Lionel Curtis
Lionel Curtis
Lionel George Curtis was a British official and author. He advocated British Empire Federalism and, late in life, a world state...
, was the main designer of the Institute of International Affairs
Chatham House
Chatham House, formally known as The Royal Institute of International Affairs, is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in London whose mission is to analyse and promote the understanding of major international issues and current affairs. It is regarded as one of the world's leading...
, and served as chairman of its first governing body from 1920 to 1926, of its publications committee and of the editorial board of International Affairs
International Affairs (journal)
International Affairs is Britain's leading peer-reviewed academic journal of international relations founded by Chatham House in 1924. It is published bi-monthly by Wiley-Blackwell . Currently its editor-in-chief is Caroline Soper...
. Apart from this Meston was also vice-chairman of the supervisory committee of the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
. He sat on the 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...
benches 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....
and served as President of the Liberal Party organization. He was also involved in business and served as chairman and as a board member of several companies.
Meston was made a CSI
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
in 1908 and a KCSI
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
in 1911 and in 1919 he was further honoured when he was raised to the peerage as Baron Meston, of Agra in the Indian Empire and Dunottar in the County of Kincardine. He served as President of the Royal Statistical Society
President of the Royal Statistical Society
The President of the Royal Statistical Society is the head of the Royal Statistical Society , elected biannually by the Fellows of the Society. ....
from 1932 to 1934.
He married Jeanie, daughter of James McDonald, in 1891. They had two sons, of which the eldest died in childhood. Lord Meston died in October 1943, aged 78, and was succeeded in the barony by his only surviving son Dougall. Lady Meston died in 1946.