Nigel Birch, Baron Rhyl
Encyclopedia
Evelyn Nigel Chetwode Birch, Baron Rhyl, PC
, OBE
(18 November 1906 – 8 March 1981) was a British Conservative
politician.
The son of General Sir Noel Birch
and his wife Florence Chetwode, Nigel Birch was educated at Eton
. He was a partner in Cohen Laming Hoare until May 1939 when he retired to study politics. He served in World War II
in the King's Royal Rifle Corps
and on General Staff, being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in 1944. He was awarded the OBE
in 1945.
He was Conservative Member of Parliament for Flintshire
from 1945-50 and for West Flintshire from 1950 until 1970. He served in government as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Air
from 1951-52, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence from 1952-54, Minister of Works
from October 1954-December 1955, Secretary of State for Air
from December 1955 until January 1957, and Economic Secretary to the Treasury
from 1957-58. His resignation in 1958 along with that of the Chancellor of the Exchequer
Peter Thorneycroft
and fellow Treasury Minister Enoch Powell
, was described by Harold Macmillan
as "little local difficulties".
He extracted his revenge when in the wake of the Profumo scandal he attacked the Macmillan government and quoted in his memorable speech the devastating words of Browning on Wordsworth - Never glad confident morning again. His speech showed Macmillan as weak and out of touch and sealed his reputation of being as deadly as Leo Amery.
In 1950 he married Hon. Esmé Glyn, daughter of the 4th Baron Wolverton
.
In 1955 he was appointed a Privy Counsellor
and in 1970 he was created a life peer
as Baron Rhyl, of Holywell in the County of Southampton
.
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...
, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(18 November 1906 – 8 March 1981) 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.
The son of General Sir Noel Birch
Noel Birch
General Sir James Frederick Noel Birch KCB KCMG was a British Cavalry Officer during the Second Boer War and World War I and subsequently Master-General of the Ordnance...
and his wife Florence Chetwode, Nigel Birch was educated at Eton
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"....
. He was a partner in Cohen Laming Hoare until May 1939 when he retired to study politics. He served in 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...
in the King's Royal Rifle Corps
King's Royal Rifle Corps
The King's Royal Rifle Corps was a British Army infantry regiment, originally raised in colonial North America as the Royal Americans, and recruited from American colonists. Later ranked as the 60th Regiment of Foot, the regiment served for more than 200 years throughout the British Empire...
and on General Staff, being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in 1944. He was awarded the OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1945.
He was Conservative Member of Parliament for Flintshire
Flintshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Flintshire was a parliamentary constituency in North-East Wales which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1542 until it was abolished for the 1950 general election.- Boundaries :...
from 1945-50 and for West Flintshire from 1950 until 1970. He served in government as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Air
Under-Secretary of State for Air
The Under-Secretary of State for Air was a junior ministerial post in the United Kingdom Government, supporting the Secretary of State for Air in his role of managing the Royal Air Force....
from 1951-52, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence from 1952-54, 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 October 1954-December 1955, Secretary of State for Air
Secretary of State for Air
The Secretary of State for Air was a cabinet level British position. The person holding this position was in charge of the Air Ministry. It was created on 10 January 1919 to manage the Royal Air Force...
from December 1955 until January 1957, and Economic Secretary to the Treasury
Economic Secretary to the Treasury
The Economic Secretary to the Treasury is the fifth most senior ministerial post in the UK Treasury, after the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the Paymaster-General and the Financial Secretary...
from 1957-58. His resignation in 1958 along with that of the Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
Peter Thorneycroft
Peter Thorneycroft
George Edward Peter Thorneycroft, Baron Thorneycroft CH, PC , was a British Conservative Party politician. He served as Chancellor of the Exchequer between 1957 and 1958.-Biography:...
and fellow Treasury Minister Enoch Powell
Enoch Powell
John Enoch Powell, MBE was a British politician, classical scholar, poet, writer, and soldier. He served as a Conservative Party MP and Minister of Health . He attained most prominence in 1968, when he made the controversial Rivers of Blood speech in opposition to mass immigration from...
, was described by Harold Macmillan
Harold Macmillan
Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC was Conservative Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 January 1957 to 18 October 1963....
as "little local difficulties".
He extracted his revenge when in the wake of the Profumo scandal he attacked the Macmillan government and quoted in his memorable speech the devastating words of Browning on Wordsworth - Never glad confident morning again. His speech showed Macmillan as weak and out of touch and sealed his reputation of being as deadly as Leo Amery.
In 1950 he married Hon. Esmé Glyn, daughter of the 4th Baron Wolverton
Frederick Glyn, 4th Baron Wolverton
Frederick Glyn, 4th Baron Wolverton , was a British banker and Conservative politician. He served as Vice-Chamberlain of the Household under Arthur Balfour from 1902 to 1905.-Background:...
.
In 1955 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...
and in 1970 he 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...
as Baron Rhyl, of Holywell in the County of Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
.