Peter Bennett, 1st Baron Bennett of Edgbaston
Encyclopedia
Peter Frederick Blaker Bennett, 1st Baron Bennett of Edgbaston OBE
, JP
(16 April 1880 – 27 September 1957), known as Sir Peter Bennett between 1941 and 1953, was a British businessman and Conservative Party
politician.
, and Annie, daughter of Peter Blaker. He was educated at King Edward's School, Birmingham
, and the University of Birmingham
.
for Sutton Coldfield
. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
(OBE) in 1918 and knighted in 1940.
(MP) for Birmingham Edgbaston at an unopposed by-election in December 1940
following the death of the sitting MP, former Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain
. He held the seat in the general elections of 1945, 1950 and 1951. He served under Winston Churchill
as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and National Service
between 1951 and 1952. On 1 July 1953 he was elevated to the peerage
as Baron Bennett of Edgbaston, of Sutton Coldfield in the County of Warwick.
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...
, JP
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...
(16 April 1880 – 27 September 1957), known as Sir Peter Bennett between 1941 and 1953, was a British businessman and Conservative Party
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.
Background and education
Bennett was the son of Frederick C. Bennett, of BirminghamBirmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, and Annie, daughter of Peter Blaker. He was educated at King Edward's School, Birmingham
King Edward's School, Birmingham
King Edward's School is an independent secondary school in Birmingham, England, founded by King Edward VI in 1552. It is part of the Foundation of the Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham, and is widely regarded as one of the most academically successful schools in the country, according to...
, and the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
.
Business career
Bennett was chairman and managing director of Joseph Lucas Ltd and also served as a Justice of the PeaceJustice 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...
for Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Coldfield is a suburb of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Sutton is located about from central Birmingham but has borders with Erdington and Kingstanding. Sutton is in the northeast of Birmingham, with a population of 105,000 recorded in the 2001 census...
. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
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...
(OBE) in 1918 and knighted in 1940.
Political career
Bennet was elected as 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 Birmingham Edgbaston at an unopposed by-election in December 1940
Birmingham Edgbaston by-election, 1940
The Birmingham Edgbaston by-election, 1940 was a parliamentary by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Birmingham Edgbaston on 18 December 1940. The seat had become vacant when Neville Chamberlain, the constituency's Conservative Party Member of Parliament had died from...
following the death of the sitting MP, former Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain
Neville Chamberlain
Arthur Neville Chamberlain FRS was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from May 1937 to May 1940. Chamberlain is best known for his appeasement foreign policy, and in particular for his signing of the Munich Agreement in 1938, conceding the...
. He held the seat in the general elections of 1945, 1950 and 1951. He served under Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and National Service
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour was a junior position within the British government, subordinate to the Minister of Labour. It was established in December 1916, at the same time as the Ministry of Labour...
between 1951 and 1952. On 1 July 1953 he was elevated to the peerage
Peerage of the United Kingdom
The Peerage of the United Kingdom comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Act of Union in 1801, when it replaced the Peerage of Great Britain...
as Baron Bennett of Edgbaston, of Sutton Coldfield in the County of Warwick.