William Mabane
Encyclopedia
William Mabane, 1st Baron Mabane KBE
, PC (12 January 1895 – 16 November 1969), known as Sir William Mabane between 1954 and 1962, was a British businessman and politician.
, he was educated at Woodhouse Grove School
and at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
. He served in the Near East and France in World War I
as a captain in the East Yorkshire Regiment
, where he was wounded and mentioned in despatches. He later became a businessman and merchant.
(MP) for Huddersfield
from 1931 until losing his seat in 1945. He entered the government as Assistant Postmaster-General
under Neville Chamberlain
in September 1939, an office he only held until October, when he was made Minister for Home Security. When Winston Churchill
succeeded Chamberlain as Prime Minister in May 1940, Mabane was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Home Department
, a post he held jointly with Ellen Wilkinson
from October of that year. He later served under Churchill as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food
from 1942 to 1945 and as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
between May and July 1945.
Mabane's exact party label was confused for much of his time in the Commons. His local Liberal association was affiliated to the official Liberals
until 1939, but Mabane was frequently listed as being a National Liberal
, which he repeatedly sought to deny, despite supporting the National Government
when the official Liberals ceased to.
He was appointed a Privy Counsellor
in 1944 and a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
(KBE) in 1954. In 1962 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Mabane, of Rye in the County of Sussex. Apart from his political career he was also Chairman (1960–1963) and President (1964–1966) of the British Travel Association.
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...
, PC (12 January 1895 – 16 November 1969), known as Sir William Mabane between 1954 and 1962, was a British businessman and politician.
Background and education
The son of Joseph Greenwood Mabane and Margaret (née Steele) of LeedsLeeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, he was educated at Woodhouse Grove School
Woodhouse Grove School
Woodhouse Grove School is an independent, coeducational, day and boarding public school and Sixth Form college in Apperley Bridge, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England for children aged between 11 and 18...
and at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge
Gonville and Caius College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. The college is often referred to simply as "Caius" , after its second founder, John Keys, who fashionably latinised the spelling of his name after studying in Italy.- Outline :Gonville and...
. He served in the Near East and France in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
as a captain in the East Yorkshire Regiment
East Yorkshire Regiment
The East Yorkshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, first raised in 1685 as Sir William Clifton's Regiment of Foot. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated with the West Yorkshire Regiment , becoming The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of...
, where he was wounded and mentioned in despatches. He later became a businessman and merchant.
Political career
Mabane was elected 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 Huddersfield
Huddersfield (UK Parliament constituency)
-Elections in the 2000s:-Elections in the 1990s:- Notes and references :...
from 1931 until losing his seat in 1945. He entered the government as Assistant Postmaster-General
Assistant Postmaster-General
The Assistant Postmaster General is a defunct junior ministerial position in the United Kingdom Government.The title of Postmaster General was abolished under the Post Office Act 1969...
under 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...
in September 1939, an office he only held until October, when he was made Minister for Home Security. When 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...
succeeded Chamberlain as Prime Minister in May 1940, Mabane was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Home Department
Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department
-Non-permanent and parliamentary under-secretaries, 1782-present:*April 1782: Evan Nepean*April 1782: Thomas Orde*July 1782: Henry Strachey*April 1783: George North*February 1784: Hon. John Townshend*June 1789: Scrope Bernard*July 1794: The Hon...
, a post he held jointly with Ellen Wilkinson
Ellen Wilkinson
Ellen Cicely Wilkinson was the Labour Member of Parliament for Middlesbrough and later for Jarrow on Tyneside. She was one of the first women in Britain to be elected as a Member of Parliament .- History :...
from October of that year. He later served under Churchill as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Food Control, later the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Food was a junior Ministerial post in the Government of the United Kingdom from 1916 to 1921 and then from 1939 to 1954...
from 1942 to 1945 and as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs is a junior ministerial position in the British government.-Ministers of State for Foreign Affairs 1945-1968:*1945: William Mabane*1945-1946: Philip Noel-Baker*1946-1950: Hector McNeil*1950-1951: Kenneth Younger...
between May and July 1945.
Mabane's exact party label was confused for much of his time in the Commons. His local Liberal association was affiliated to the official Liberals
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
until 1939, but Mabane was frequently listed as being a National Liberal
National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)
The National Liberal Party, known until 1948 as the Liberal National Party, was a liberal political party in the United Kingdom from 1931 to 1968...
, which he repeatedly sought to deny, despite supporting the National Government
National Government 1935-1940
Members of the Cabinet are in bold face.-Source:*D. Butler and G. Butler, Twentieth Century British Political Facts 1900–2000....
when the official Liberals ceased to.
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 1944 and a Knight Commander 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...
(KBE) in 1954. In 1962 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Mabane, of Rye in the County of Sussex. Apart from his political career he was also Chairman (1960–1963) and President (1964–1966) of the British Travel Association.