Joseph Leckie
Encyclopedia
Joseph Alexander Leckie was a British Liberal
, later Liberal National
politician and leather manufacturer.
in Glasgow
the son of John and Isabella Leckie. He was educated at Glasgow Academy and Bellahouston Academy
, Glasgow. Leckie joined his father’s wholesale saddlery and leather goods manufacturing business, which had branches in Glasgow, London and Walsall
. He travelled widely on the company’s business in Europe, Canada, the USA and Central America. He continued to work for the company until 1928. During this time he was a member and sometime president of Walsall Incorporated Chamber of Commerce
. Leckie later became a member of the Council of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire. He married Jean Wightman, the daughter of a Walsall Justice of the Peace
.
, social and religious works. Presumably reflecting his Glasgow roots, Leckie was a Presbyterian. He served as president of the West Midland Federation of Free Churches and treasurer of the Federal Council of the Free Churches. He also served as president of the Walsall and District Band of Hope Union for some years. He was a Chairman of the Walsall Chamber of Commerce in the early years of the 20th century.
This was only a temporary setback however, for in 1905 Leckie became a member of the Walsall Education Committee and he was Chairman of the Committee from 1930-37. He became a member of Walsall Town Council in 1916. Elections to the council were suspended because of the First World War and when in April 1916 a sitting councillor in Hatherton Ward resigned to devote more time to his business, Leckie was proposed for co-option and chosen over a candidate put forward by the Labour Party
and Trades Council. He retained his seat comfortably at the municipal elections of 1919 and went on to a distinguished local government career. He was later an alderman
of what was by then the County Borough of Walsall from 1930 until 1937. He was Mayor
of Walsall in 1926-27. In 1933 he was elected to the Executive Committee of the Association of Education Committees. In 1937 he was made an honorary freeman
of Walsall. He also served as a Justice of the Peace.
at the general election
. This was the election following the formation of the National Government
under Ramsay MacDonald
. An agreement was made with the Conservatives
, and Leckie got a free run against the sitting Labour
Member of Parliament
(MP) John McShane
. When the Liberal Party withdrew from the National Government after the general election and divided into those who supported the coalition and those against, Leckie stayed with the National Liberal group led by Sir John Simon
. He stood as a Liberal National again at the 1935 general election
and was returned with a majority of 8,969 votes. The by-election
in Walsall which followed Leckie’s death resulted in a win for the Liberal National (government) candidate Sir George Schuster
.
, Birmingham.
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...
, later Liberal National
National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)
The National Liberal Party, known until 1948 as the Liberal National Party, was a liberal political party in the United Kingdom from 1931 to 1968...
politician and leather manufacturer.
Education and business life
Leckie was born in GovanGovan
Govan is a district and former burgh now part of southwest City of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated west of Glasgow city centre, on the south bank of the River Clyde, opposite the mouth of the River Kelvin and the district of Partick....
in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
the son of John and Isabella Leckie. He was educated at Glasgow Academy and Bellahouston Academy
Bellahouston Academy
Bellahouston Academy is a non-denominational state-run secondary school in Bellahouston, south-west Glasgow, Scotland.-History:Bellahouston Academy first opened in 1876 as a private school, run by Alexander Sim. It was taken over by the Govan School Board in 1885, and has been a state school ever...
, Glasgow. Leckie joined his father’s wholesale saddlery and leather goods manufacturing business, which had branches in Glasgow, London and Walsall
Walsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
. He travelled widely on the company’s business in Europe, Canada, the USA and Central America. He continued to work for the company until 1928. During this time he was a member and sometime president of Walsall Incorporated Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
. Leckie later became a member of the Council of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire. He married Jean Wightman, the daughter of a Walsall Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
.
Public life
Like most late Victorian businessmen, Leckie took an interest in public affairs. As early as 1898 he was chosen as Hon. Secretary to the Walsall Victoria Nursing Institution and he took an active part in temperanceTemperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
, social and religious works. Presumably reflecting his Glasgow roots, Leckie was a Presbyterian. He served as president of the West Midland Federation of Free Churches and treasurer of the Federal Council of the Free Churches. He also served as president of the Walsall and District Band of Hope Union for some years. He was a Chairman of the Walsall Chamber of Commerce in the early years of the 20th century.
Local Politics
Leckie first stood for election to Walsall Council in the Bridge Ward in 1903, describing himself as a Progressive Candidate. However he was beaten by a local solicitor.This was only a temporary setback however, for in 1905 Leckie became a member of the Walsall Education Committee and he was Chairman of the Committee from 1930-37. He became a member of Walsall Town Council in 1916. Elections to the council were suspended because of the First World War and when in April 1916 a sitting councillor in Hatherton Ward resigned to devote more time to his business, Leckie was proposed for co-option and chosen over a candidate put forward by 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 Trades Council. He retained his seat comfortably at the municipal elections of 1919 and went on to a distinguished local government career. He was later an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
of what was by then the County Borough of Walsall from 1930 until 1937. He was Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Walsall in 1926-27. In 1933 he was elected to the Executive Committee of the Association of Education Committees. In 1937 he was made an honorary freeman
Freedom of the City
Freedom of the City is an honour bestowed by some municipalities in Australia, Canada, Ireland, France, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, Gibraltar and Rhodesia to esteemed members of its community and to organisations to be honoured, often for service to the community;...
of Walsall. He also served as a Justice of the Peace.
Parliament
Leckie was Chairman of Walsall Liberal Association from 1912-1931 and in 1931 he was chosen to be Liberal candidate for WalsallWalsall (UK Parliament constituency)
Walsall was a borough constituency centred on the town of Walsall in the West Midlands of England. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system....
at the general election
United Kingdom general election, 1931
The United Kingdom general election on Tuesday 27 October 1931 was the last in the United Kingdom not held on a Thursday. It was also the last election, and the only one under universal suffrage, where one party received an absolute majority of the votes cast.The 1931 general election was the...
. This was the election following the formation of the National Government
National Government 1931-1935
See also First National MinistryThe United Kingdom's National Government was composed of members of the following parties:*National Labour*Conservative Party*Liberal Party*Liberal Nationals...
under Ramsay MacDonald
Ramsay MacDonald
James Ramsay MacDonald, PC, FRS was a British politician who was the first ever Labour Prime Minister, leading a minority government for two terms....
. An agreement was made with the Conservatives
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...
, and Leckie got a free run against the sitting 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...
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) John McShane
John James McShane
John James McShane was a British school teacher and Labour politician.-Early life:He was born in Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland, and was the son of Philip McShane, a coalminer, and his wife Bridget. Both his parents were born in Ireland...
. When the Liberal Party withdrew from the National Government after the general election and divided into those who supported the coalition and those against, Leckie stayed with the National Liberal group led by Sir John Simon
John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon
John Allsebrook Simon, 1st Viscount Simon GCSI GCVO OBE PC was a British politician who held senior Cabinet posts from the beginning of the First World War to the end of the Second. He is one of only three people to have served as Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer,...
. He stood as a Liberal National again at 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...
and was returned with a majority of 8,969 votes. The by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
in Walsall which followed Leckie’s death resulted in a win for the Liberal National (government) candidate Sir George Schuster
George Ernest Schuster
Sir George Ernest Schuster, KCSI, KCMG, CBE, MC was a British barrister, financier, colonial administrator and Liberal politician....
.
Death
Leckie, who had suffered from increasing deafness as he grew older, died following a seizure on 9 August 1938 at a nursing home in EdgbastonEdgbaston
Edgbaston is an area in the city of Birmingham in England. It is also a formal district, managed by its own district committee. The constituency includes the smaller Edgbaston ward and the wards of Bartley Green, Harborne and Quinton....
, Birmingham.