Sir John Power, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir John Cecil Power, first baronet, (21 December 1870 – 5 June 1950) was a British
businessman and Conservative Party
politician.
Born in Eldon, County Down
, he was the son of William Taylor Power and his wife, Cecilia nee Burgoyne. The family moved to London
when he was aged 10. With his brother he entered the family business of Power, Power and Company export merchants. As a young man he travelled extensively in Europe and North America. in 1902 he married Mabel Perks with whom he had five children.
He subsequently started his own real estate
business, becoming a wealthy developer owning much property in central London including Adastral House
in the redeveloped Kingsway
. Power became known for his generous financial gifts to various institutions. Of £24,000 collected to alllow the construction of the Institute of Historical Research
in 1921, Power gave £20,000. In 1923 he gave a large donation that allowed for the purchase of the site of Chatham House
as the headquarters of the Institute of International Affairs. Power was honorary treasurer of the institute from 1921 to 1943. he was also an active member of the League of Nations Union
, sitting on its executive for seven years and also on various committees. He was a member of the committee of the Royal Humane Society
and donated a site for the first headquarters of the British Council
.
In 1924 Power was created a baronet "of Newlands Manor, in the Parish of Milford, in the County of Southampton". In the same year
he was elected as member of parliament
for Wimbledon
, holding the seat until his retirement due to ill health at the 1945 general election
. His wife died suddenly in the same year, a loss that effected him deeply. His retirement years were spent in his Hampshire
home and a villa
in Grasse
on the French Riviera
. He died at his French home in 1950 aged 79. He was succeeded in the baronetcy by his eldest son, Ivan McLannahan Cecil Power.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
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.
Born in Eldon, County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
, he was the son of William Taylor Power and his wife, Cecilia nee Burgoyne. The family moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
when he was aged 10. With his brother he entered the family business of Power, Power and Company export merchants. As a young man he travelled extensively in Europe and North America. in 1902 he married Mabel Perks with whom he had five children.
He subsequently started his own real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
business, becoming a wealthy developer owning much property in central London including Adastral House
Television House
Television House, on Kingsway in London was, from 1955, the London headquarters of Associated-Rediffusion, Independent Television News , TV Times magazine, the Independent Television Companies Association and, at first, Associated TeleVision...
in the redeveloped Kingsway
Kingsway (London)
Kingsway is a major road in central London in the United Kingdom, designated as part of the A4200. It runs from High Holborn, at its north end in the London Borough of Camden, and meets Aldwych in the south in the City of Westminster at Bush House. It was built in the 1900s...
. Power became known for his generous financial gifts to various institutions. Of £24,000 collected to alllow the construction of the Institute of Historical Research
Institute of Historical Research
The Institute of Historical Research is a British educational organisation providing resources and training for historical researchers. It is part of the School of Advanced Study in the University of London and is located at Senate House. The Institute was founded in 1921 by A. F...
in 1921, Power gave £20,000. In 1923 he gave a large donation that allowed for the purchase of the site of Chatham House
Chatham House
Chatham House, formally known as The Royal Institute of International Affairs, is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in London whose mission is to analyse and promote the understanding of major international issues and current affairs. It is regarded as one of the world's leading...
as the headquarters of the Institute of International Affairs. Power was honorary treasurer of the institute from 1921 to 1943. he was also an active member of the League of Nations Union
League of Nations Union
The League of Nations Union was an organization formed in the United Kingdom to promote international justice, collective security and a permanent peace between nations based upon the ideals of the League of Nations. The League of Nations was established by the Great Powers as part of the Paris...
, sitting on its executive for seven years and also on various committees. He was a member of the committee of the Royal Humane Society
Royal Humane Society
The Royal Humane Society is a British charity which promotes lifesaving intervention. It was founded in England in 1774 as the Society for the Recovery of Persons Apparently Drowned, for the purpose of rendering first aid in cases of near drowning....
and donated a site for the first headquarters of the British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
.
In 1924 Power was created a baronet "of Newlands Manor, in the Parish of Milford, in the County of Southampton". In the same year
United Kingdom general election, 1924
- Seats summary :- References :* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* - External links :* * *...
he was elected as 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,...
for Wimbledon
Wimbledon (UK Parliament constituency)
Wimbledon is one of two parliamentary constituencies in the London Borough of Merton in south-west London. It elects one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, by the first-past-the-post voting system....
, holding the seat until his retirement due to ill health at the 1945 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
. His wife died suddenly in the same year, a loss that effected him deeply. His retirement years were spent in his Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
home and a villa
Villa
A villa was originally an ancient Roman upper-class country house. Since its origins in the Roman villa, the idea and function of a villa have evolved considerably. After the fall of the Roman Republic, villas became small farming compounds, which were increasingly fortified in Late Antiquity,...
in Grasse
Grasse
-See also:*Route Napoléon*Ancient Diocese of Grasse*Communes of the Alpes-Maritimes department-External links:*...
on the French Riviera
French Riviera
The Côte d'Azur, pronounced , often known in English as the French Riviera , is the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France, also including the sovereign state of Monaco...
. He died at his French home in 1950 aged 79. He was succeeded in the baronetcy by his eldest son, Ivan McLannahan Cecil Power.