Alec Beechman facts for kids

Nevil Alexander Beechman (born August 5, 1896 – died November 6, 1965) was a British lawyer and politician. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for St Ives in Cornwall from 1937 to 1950. He belonged to the Liberal National Party.

Early Life and Education

Nevil Beechman, also known as Alec, was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Beechman. He went to Westminster School in London, where he was a very good student and even became the head boy. After that, he studied Classics (ancient Greek and Roman studies) at Balliol College, Oxford, a famous university.

In 1953, he married Mary Gwendolyn Caradoc Williams. She was the widow of Captain Garth Caradoc Williams.

Military Service

During the First World War, Beechman joined the British Army in May 1915 when he was 18. He served as a second lieutenant with the East Surrey Regiment in France and Belgium. In 1917, the same week he turned 21, he was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery. He became a captain that same year.

He was badly injured at the Battle of Passchendaele, receiving nine wounds in a short time. After recovering, he became an instructor, teaching new officers.

Law Career

After the war, Beechman decided to become a lawyer. In 1923, he became a barrister at the Inner Temple in London. A barrister is a type of lawyer who represents people in court. In 1947, he was made a King's Counsel, which is a special title for very experienced barristers. He focused on legal cases related to money and society.

Political Journey

Beechman was originally a member of the Liberal Party. After the First World War, he returned to University of Oxford. He was the president of the Oxford Union in 1921. This is a well-known debating society. He also led the Oxford University Liberal Club.

In 1919, Beechman helped start a political magazine called Oxford Outlook. This magazine had left-leaning ideas.

The Liberal Party faced some challenges after the war. Many Liberals disagreed with the party's close ties to the Conservatives. Beechman was involved in bringing the Oxford University Liberal Club back to life. He supported the traditional Liberals who did not want to work closely with the Conservatives.

In 1931, Beechman was considered as a Liberal candidate for Oldham. However, the party decided not to run in that election. This was because a new National Government was formed, which the Liberals initially supported.

Later, Beechman joined a different part of the Liberal Party. This group, led by Sir John Simon, continued to support the National Government. The main Liberal Party, led by Herbert Samuel, left the government. This happened because they disagreed about Free trade after the Ottawa agreements in 1932.

In 1937, Beechman became the Liberal National candidate for a special election in St Ives, Cornwall. He won the election by a very small number of votes.

Even though the Liberal Nationals worked closely with the Conservatives, Beechman still saw himself as a Liberal. He believed that working with the Conservatives was a way to oppose the Labour Party. He remained the MP for St Ives until 1950, when he decided not to run again.

Achievements and Later Life

Beechman held several important roles in government. He was a Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to different ministers. A PPS helps a minister with their work. He was also an assistant government whip from 1943 to 1945. He was the Chief Whip for the Liberal National Party from 1942 to 1945. The Chief Whip makes sure party members vote in line with the party's policies.

After leaving Parliament, Beechman continued to live in St Ives. He served on the town council from 1957 to 1965.