Patrick Wolrige-Gordon
Encyclopedia
Patrick Wolrige-Gordon, also spelt Wolridge-Gordon (10 August 1935 – 22 May 2002) was a Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
politician.
and his wife Joan Walter, the daughter of Dame Flora MacLeod
, the 28th Chief
of the Clan MacLeod
. He was educated at Eton
and at New College, Oxford
and served as a Lieutenant in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
.
(MP) for East Aberdeenshire
in November 1958 at a by-election
when he was still an undergraduate. He was at the time the youngest MP
.
He married Anne Howard, daughter of Peter Howard
, in 1962 and became involved through Howard in Frank Buchman's Moral Re-Armament
(MRA) movement, which attracted much negative comment. He fell out with his local association over the matter and was defeated in the February 1974 general election
by the Scottish National Party candidate Douglas Henderson
.
to take up the role of 29th Clan Chieftain, which he inherited from their grandmother.
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
The Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party is the part of the British Conservative Party that operates in Scotland. Like the UK party, it has a centre-right political philosophy which promotes conservatism and strong British Unionism...
politician.
Biography
Wolrige-Gordon was one of twin sons of Captain Robert Wolridge-Gordon, MCMilitary Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
and his wife Joan Walter, the daughter of Dame Flora MacLeod
Flora MacLeod of MacLeod
Dame Flora MacLeod of MacLeod, DBE was the 28th chief of Clan MacLeod. Dunvegan Castle in Skye is the 800 year old MacLeod family seat.-Early years:...
, the 28th Chief
Scottish clan chief
The Scottish Gaelic word clann means children. In early times, and possibly even today, clan members believed themselves to descend from a common ancestor, the founder of the Scottish clan. From its perceived founder a clan takes its name. The clan chief is the representative of this founder, and...
of the Clan MacLeod
Clan MacLeod
Clan MacLeod is a Highland Scottish clan associated with the Isle of Skye. There are two main branches of the clan: the Macleods of Harris and Dunvegan, whose chief is Macleod of Macleod, are known in Gaelic as Sìol Tormoid ; the Macleods of Lewis, whose chief is Macleod of The Lewes, are known in...
. He 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"....
and at 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...
and served as a Lieutenant in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland....
.
Career
Patrick Wolrige-Gordon was elected Conservative and Unionist Member of ParliamentMember 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 East Aberdeenshire
East Aberdeenshire (UK Parliament constituency)
East Aberdeenshire was a Scottish county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1868 to 1918 and form 1950 to 1983...
in November 1958 at 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....
when he was still an undergraduate. He was at the time the youngest MP
Baby of the House
Baby of the House is the unofficial title given to the youngest member of a parliamentary house. The term is most often applied to members of the British parliament.-Australia:In Australia the term is rarely used...
.
He married Anne Howard, daughter of Peter Howard
Peter Howard (journalist)
Peter Dunsmore Howard was a British journalist, playwright, captain of the England national rugby union team and the head of the spiritual movement Moral Re-Armament from 1961 to 1965.-Biography:...
, in 1962 and became involved through Howard in Frank Buchman's Moral Re-Armament
Moral Re-Armament
Moral Re-Armament was an international Christian moral and spiritual movement that, in 1938, developed from the American minister Frank Buchman's Oxford Group. Buchman, a Lutheran, headed MRA for 23 years, from 1938 until his death in 1961...
(MRA) movement, which attracted much negative comment. He fell out with his local association over the matter and was defeated in the February 1974 general election
United Kingdom general election, February 1974
The United Kingdom's general election of February 1974 was held on the 28th of that month. It was the first of two United Kingdom general elections held that year, and the first election since the Second World War not to produce an overall majority in the House of Commons for the winning party,...
by the Scottish National Party candidate Douglas Henderson
Douglas Henderson
Douglas Henderson was a Scottish politician. He served as a Member of Parliament for the Scottish National Party , representing the East Aberdeenshire constituency from February 1974 to March 1979, and held virtually every national office in the SNP, short of party leader...
.
Family
Wolrige-Gordon had a son and two daughters. His twin brother John (1935–2007) changed his name to John MacLeod of MacLeodJohn MacLeod of MacLeod
John MacLeod of MacLeod, born as John Wolrige-Gordon, was the 29th chief of Clan MacLeod. Faced with the need for expensive repairs to the clan's seat at Dunvegan Castle on the Isle of Skye, his proposed methods to raise funds caused considerable controversy...
to take up the role of 29th Clan Chieftain, which he inherited from their grandmother.