Robin Turton, Baron Tranmire
Encyclopedia
Robert Hugh Turton, Baron Tranmire KBE
, MC
, PC
, JP
, DL
(8 August 1903 – 17 January 1994) was a British Conservative Party
politician.
The son of Major R. B. Turton, Kildale Hall, Kildale
, Yorkshire
, he was educated at Eton College
and at Balliol College, Oxford
.
He was called to the Bar, Inner Temple in 1926. He joined the 4th Battalion of the Green Howards at the outbreak of World War II
and served as served as Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General 50th (N) Division, AAG GHQ MEF. He was awarded the Military Cross
in 1942.
At the 1929 general election
, he was elected Member of Parliament
(MP) for Thirsk and Malton
, holding the seat until his retirement at the February 1974 general election
. This was a very long time in the House of Commons, and near the end he was Father of the House
. He attributed his election as an MP at the unusually young age of 25 to the death of his predecessor Sir Edmund Turton, 1st Baronet (a relative) only three weeks before polling day and the local Conservative association not wanting to waste its "Vote For Turton" posters.
He held ministerial office as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Insurance from 1951 to 1953 and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance from 1953 to 1954, as Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs from October 1954 to December 1955 and finally entered the Cabinet
as Minister of Health
from December 1955 to January 1957. He was appointed a Privy Counsellor
in 1955. In Parliament he was Chairman of the Select Committee on Procedure from 1970-74. He was opposed to British membership of the EEC.
He was appointed a KBE in 1971 and in 1974, he was created a Life Peer
as Baron Tranmire, of Upsall in the North Riding of Yorkshire.
He was appointed as Justice of the Peace
in 1936 and a Deputy Lieutenant
for the North Riding of Yorkshire in 1962.
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...
, MC
Military 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....
, PC
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...
, 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...
, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(8 August 1903 – 17 January 1994) was a British 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.
The son of Major R. B. Turton, Kildale Hall, Kildale
Kildale
Kildale is a village and civil parish in Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies approximately 3 miles south-east of Great Ayton, in the North Yorkshire Moors on the Cleveland Way National Trail....
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, he was educated at Eton College
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 Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
.
He was called to the Bar, Inner Temple in 1926. He joined the 4th Battalion of the Green Howards at the outbreak of 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...
and served as served as Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General 50th (N) Division, AAG GHQ MEF. He was awarded the Military Cross
Military 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....
in 1942.
At the 1929 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1929
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
, he was elected 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) for Thirsk and Malton
Thirsk and Malton (UK Parliament constituency)
Thirsk and Malton is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
, holding the seat until his retirement at 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,...
. This was a very long time in the House of Commons, and near the end he was Father of the House
Father of the House
Father of the House is a term that has by tradition been unofficially bestowed on certain members of some national legislatures, most notably the House of Commons in the United Kingdom. In some legislatures the term refers to the oldest member, but in others it refers the longest-serving member.The...
. He attributed his election as an MP at the unusually young age of 25 to the death of his predecessor Sir Edmund Turton, 1st Baronet (a relative) only three weeks before polling day and the local Conservative association not wanting to waste its "Vote For Turton" posters.
He held ministerial office as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Insurance from 1951 to 1953 and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance from 1953 to 1954, as Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs from October 1954 to December 1955 and finally entered the Cabinet
Cabinet of the United Kingdom
The Cabinet of the United Kingdom is the collective decision-making body of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, composed of the Prime Minister and some 22 Cabinet Ministers, the most senior of the government ministers....
as Minister of Health
Secretary of State for Health
Secretary of State for Health is a UK cabinet position responsible for the Department of Health.The first Boards of Health were created by Orders in Council dated 21 June, 14 November, and 21 November 1831. In 1848 a General Board of Health was created with the First Commissioner of Woods and...
from December 1955 to January 1957. 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...
in 1955. In Parliament he was Chairman of the Select Committee on Procedure from 1970-74. He was opposed to British membership of the EEC.
He was appointed a KBE in 1971 and in 1974, 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 Tranmire, of Upsall in the North Riding of Yorkshire.
He was appointed as 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...
in 1936 and a Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
for the North Riding of Yorkshire in 1962.