Arthur Hope, 2nd Baron Rankeillour facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Rankeillour
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Arthur Hope in 1940
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| Governor of Madras Presidency | |
| In office 12 March 1940 – 26 February 1946 |
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| Governor-General | Victor Hope, 2nd Marquess of Linlithgow The Earl Wavell |
| Preceded by | John Erskine, Lord Erskine |
| Succeeded by | Sir Henry Foley Knight As Acting Governor |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 May 1897 Marylebone, London, England |
| Died | 26 May 1958 (aged 61) Surrey, England |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse | Grizel Gilmour (1919–58, his death) |
Arthur Oswald James Hope, 2nd Baron Rankeillour (born 7 May 1897 – died 26 May 1958) was an important British person. He was a politician, a soldier, and an administrator. He belonged to the Conservative Party. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for different areas in England from 1924 to 1939. After that, he became the Governor of the Madras Presidency in British India from 1940 to 1946.
Arthur Hope was born in 1897. His father was the first Lord Rankeillour. Arthur went to school in England. He fought bravely in France during the First World War. After his time in the army, he started his public career.
He married Grizel Gilmour in 1919. They had four daughters. Arthur Hope passed away on May 26, 1958, when he was 61 years old.
Contents
Early Life and Military Service
Arthur Oswald James Hope was born in Marylebone, England, on May 7, 1897. His parents were James Hope, 1st Baron Rankeillour and Mabel Ellen Riddell. His father had been a Deputy Speaker in the House of Commons. Arthur was the oldest of four children.
Arthur went to The Oratory School and then to Sandhurst. Sandhurst is a famous military academy. In 1914, when World War I began, he joined the Coldstream Guards. He became a Captain in the army.
A Young Soldier's Bravery
During the war, Arthur Hope was wounded while fighting in France. He was mentioned in official reports for his brave actions. He received two special awards for his courage: the Military Cross and the Croix de Guerre. These awards showed his bravery in battle.
Life in Politics
After World War I ended, Arthur Hope left the army. He decided to enter public life and joined the Conservative Party. In the 1924 general election, he was elected to the Parliament of the United Kingdom. He represented the Nuneaton area in Warwickshire.
Serving in Parliament
Arthur Hope served as an MP for a total of fourteen years. He represented Nuneaton from 1924 to 1929. Later, he represented Birmingham Aston from 1931 to 1940. In the 1935 election, he won by a large number of votes. He was still an MP when he was chosen to be the Governor of Madras. Because of this, he had to give up his seat in Parliament.
Working for the Government
Besides being an MP, Arthur Hope also held other important roles in the government. From 1924 to 1926, he was a Parliamentary Private Secretary. This meant he helped a senior government minister. He also worked as a whip from 1935 to 1939. Whips help make sure that members of their party vote in a certain way. He held titles like Lord of the Treasury and Treasurer of the Household.
He also enjoyed cricket and played a first-class match for the British Army in 1926.
Governor of Madras
In 1940, Arthur Hope was appointed Governor of Madras. He took over the role from John Erskine, Lord Erskine on March 12, 1940. The Madras Presidency was a large area in British India.
Leading During Wartime
Arthur Hope was Governor during the Second World War. There was a lot of worry about possible attacks from Japan. Japan had taken over nearby areas like Burma. In April 1942, Japanese planes bombed coastal towns in India. They also attacked Madras port by sea. Governor Hope quickly moved important offices and businesses away from the coast to keep people safe.
During this time, the last elected government in Madras had resigned. This meant Hope had to lead during a difficult period. A large protest movement called the Quit India Movement started in 1942. The government responded by controlling what newspapers could report. Hope made sure that news about local politics was not published.
Supporting the Madras Regiment
The Madras Regiment was a famous army group. Over time, its different parts had been closed down. By 1928, the regiment no longer existed. When Hope became Governor in 1940, he wanted to bring it back. He believed that the soldiers from Madras were very capable.
He said that Madras troops had fought bravely in the past. He felt they were as good as any other soldiers in India or the world. Because of his efforts, the Madras Regiment was started again in 1942. Hope was made its first Colonel-in-chief. A training center was opened, and the regiment fought well in the Burma campaign.
Helping Education Grow
In 1945, Governor Hope opened a new polytechnic college in Coimbatore. This college was built by G. D. Naidu. It was later named "Arthur Hope Polytechnic" in his honor. The college grew and became the Government College of Science and Technology in 1950. Even though the college moved and changed its name, the area where it first started is still known as "Hope College."
Leaving His Post
Arthur Hope's time as Governor ended on February 26, 1946. Official reports stated that he had to leave his position early due to health reasons. He was said to be suffering from "Tropical Neurasthenia," which was a term used at the time for Europeans returning home due to health issues.
He was replaced by Henry Foley Knight as Acting Governor. Later, Archibald Edward Nye became the new Governor.
Honours and Family Life
In 1939, just before he became Governor of Madras, Arthur Hope received a special honour. He was made a Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire. This is a very high award. In 1949, when his father passed away, Arthur became the 2nd Baron Rankeillour.
Special Honours
- Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE)
- Military Cross (MC)
- Croix de Guerre
His Family
On June 2, 1919, Arthur Hope married Grizel Gilmour. She was the daughter of Brigadier-General Sir Robert Gordon Gilmour. Arthur and Grizel had four daughters:
- Bridget Mary Hope (born 1920)
- Jean Margaret Hope (born 1923)
- Alison Mary Hope (born 1927)
- Barbara Mary Hope (born 1930)
Arthur Hope did not have any sons. So, when he died in 1958, his title and family estate were passed on to his younger brother, Henry John Hope.
Death
Arthur Hope passed away on May 26, 1958. He was 61 years old.
