Alan Lennox-Boyd, 1st Viscount Boyd of Merton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Viscount Boyd of Merton
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| Secretary of State for the Colonies | |
| In office 28 July 1954 – 14 October 1959 |
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| Prime Minister | |
| Preceded by | Oliver Lyttelton |
| Succeeded by | Iain Macleod |
| Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation | |
| In office 7 May 1952 – 28 July 1954 |
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| Prime Minister | Winston Churchill |
| Preceded by | John Maclay |
| Succeeded by | John Boyd-Carpenter |
| Minister of State for the Colonies | |
| In office 2 November 1951 – 7 May 1952 |
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| Prime Minister | Winston Churchill |
| Preceded by | John Dugdale |
| Succeeded by | Henry Hopkinson |
| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| In office 8 September 1960 – 8 March 1983 Hereditary peerage |
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| Preceded by | Peerage created |
| Succeeded by | The 2nd Viscount Boyd of Merton |
| Member of Parliament for Mid Bedfordshire |
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| In office 27 October 1931 – 8 September 1960 |
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| Preceded by | Milner Gray |
| Succeeded by | Stephen Hastings |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 November 1904 |
| Died | 8 March 1983 (aged 78) |
| Resting place | Church of St Stephen, Saltash, Cornwall |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse |
Lady Patricia Guinness
(m. 1938) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Sherborne School |
| Alma mater | Christ Church, Oxford |
Alan Tindal Lennox-Boyd, 1st Viscount Boyd of Merton, born on 18 November 1904, was an important British politician. He was a member of the Conservative Party. He held several key government jobs during his career. He passed away on 8 March 1983.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Alan Lennox-Boyd was born into a family with several siblings. Sadly, two of his brothers died during the Second World War. He went to Sherborne School in Dorset. After that, he studied at Christ Church, Oxford University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree, which was later upgraded to a Master of Arts (MA).
During the Second World War, he served in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. He was a lieutenant with Coastal Forces, which means he was involved in naval operations near the coast.
Political Journey
Lennox-Boyd began his political career at a young age. He was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Mid Bedfordshire in 1931. He was only 26 years old at the time. In 1941, he also became a barrister, which is a type of lawyer.
He served in Winston Churchill's government after the war. From 1952 to 1954, he was the Minister for Transport and Civil Aviation. In this role, he helped manage the country's roads, railways, and air travel. He once famously said that most road accidents happen because many people take small risks, not just a few people taking big ones.
As Minister, he officially opened the third Woodhead Tunnel on 3 June 1954. This tunnel was part of an important electrified railway line across the Pennines mountains.
Overseeing Decolonisation
In 1954, Lennox-Boyd became the Secretary of State for the Colonies. This was a very important job. He was in charge during the early stages of decolonisation. This was a time when many countries that were once part of the British Empire became independent.
During his time, countries like Cyprus, Ghana, Malaya, and Sudan gained their independence. He worked with leaders from these countries to help them become self-governing. For example, he invited Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Chief Minister of Malaya, to London to discuss independence.
He also served during the Mau Mau Rebellion in Kenya. This was a difficult period. He was persuaded by Prime Minister Harold Macmillan to stay in his role even after some criticism related to events in Kenya.
Immigration Discussions
In 1955, there were discussions about immigration to Britain. Some government members wanted to control the number of people coming from New Commonwealth countries. Lennox-Boyd was against this. He believed that if there were controls, they should apply to everyone in the Commonwealth, or to no one. Because the government wanted to allow citizens from the Old Commonwealth (like Canada or Australia) to come freely, they decided not to have any controls at that time.
After His Ministerial Role
After the 1959 general election, Lennox-Boyd left his role as Colonial Secretary. In September 1960, he was given a special title and became Viscount Boyd of Merton. This meant he became a member of the House of Lords. His old seat in Parliament was then won by Stephen Hastings in a special election. He was also honored by being appointed a Companion of Honour.
Other Roles and Business Career
Lord Boyd of Merton held other important positions. He was a Deputy Lieutenant for Bedfordshire from 1954 to 1960. Later, he was also a Deputy Lieutenant for Cornwall in 1965.
He also had a career in business. From 1959 to 1967, he was a managing director at Arthur Guinness & Sons, a famous brewing company. He was also a Companion of Honour and a Privy Councillor.
His Role in the Mau Mau Rebellion
Alan Lennox-Boyd visited Kenya in 1952 as Minister of State for the Colonies. At that time, Kenya was under emergency rule because of the Mau Mau Rebellion. The British Governor, Sir Evelyn Baring, and the military commander, Sir George Erskine, were in charge.
In 1954, when Lennox-Boyd became Colonial Secretary, he continued to be involved in the situation in Kenya. He visited areas where many people from the Kikuyu community had been moved into special villages or camps. He worked with the Governor and military leaders.
In 1957, a secret report was sent to Lennox-Boyd. This report described some harsh treatment of Mau Mau detainees. Lennox-Boyd publicly stated that he supported the actions taken by the Governor and the military.
Later, a politician named Barbara Castle visited Kenya and reported to the British Parliament about the situation. She spoke about the need to recognize the human rights of Africans.
In 2011, some government documents were found. These documents suggested that Lennox-Boyd might have been aware of the issues but publicly denied them. He also criticized officials who reported problems. These documents helped form the basis of a book about the end of the British Empire in Kenya.
Family Life
Alan Lennox-Boyd married Lady Patricia Guinness on 29 December 1938. She was the daughter of the 2nd Earl of Iveagh. His mother-in-law had also been an MP.
Alan and Lady Patricia had three children:
- Simon Lennox-Boyd, 2nd Viscount Boyd of Merton (born 1939)
- Hon. Christopher Lennox-Boyd (1941–2012)
- Hon. Mark Lennox-Boyd (born 1943)
Lord Boyd of Merton passed away in March 1983 at the age of 78. He was hit by a car while walking in London. After his cremation, he was buried at St Stephen's Church, Saltash, in Cornwall. His eldest son, Simon, inherited his title. Lady Boyd of Merton passed away in May 2001.
Images for kids
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Alan Tindal Lennox-Boyd
