Arthur Salter, 1st Baron Salter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Salter
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| Minister of Materials | |
| In office 24 November 1952 – 1 September 1953 |
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| Prime Minister | Winston Churchill |
| Preceded by | The Viscount Swinton |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Woolton |
| Minister for Economic Affairs | |
| In office 26 October 1951 – 24 November 1952 |
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| Prime Minister | Winston Churchill |
| Preceded by | Hugh Gaitskell |
| Succeeded by | George Brown (Sec. of State) |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | |
| In office 25 May 1945 – 26 July 1945 |
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| Prime Minister | Winston Churchill |
| Preceded by | Ernest Brown |
| Succeeded by | John Hynd |
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport | |
| In office 29 June 1941 – 23 May 1945 |
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| Prime Minister | Winston Churchill |
| Preceded by | John Llewellin |
| Succeeded by | Peter Thorneycroft |
| Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping | |
| In office 13 November 1939 – 29 June 1941 |
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| Prime Minister | Neville Chamberlain Winston Churchill |
| Preceded by | Leslie Wilson (1919) |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| In office 12 November 1953 – 27 June 1975 Hereditary peerage |
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| Member of Parliament for Ormskirk |
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| In office 5 April 1951 – 12 November 1953 |
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| Preceded by | Ronald Cross |
| Succeeded by | Douglas Glover |
| Member of Parliament for Oxford University |
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| In office 27 February 1937 – 23 February 1950 |
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| Preceded by | Hugh Cecil |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
James Arthur Salter
15 March 1881 |
| Died | 27 June 1975 (aged 94) |
| Alma mater | Brasenose College, Oxford |
James Arthur Salter (born March 15, 1881 – died June 27, 1975) was an important British figure. He worked as a civil servant (someone who works for the government), a politician, and a professor. He played a big part in helping countries work together on economic issues, often alongside a French leader named Jean Monnet.
Contents
Early Life and Education
James Arthur Salter was the oldest son of James Edward Salter. His father owned a boating company on the River Thames called Salters Steamers. His father also became the Mayor of Oxford in 1909.
Arthur Salter went to Oxford City High School. Later, he studied at Brasenose College, Oxford, where he was a top student. He graduated in 1903 with excellent grades in a subject called Literae Humaniores, which includes classics and philosophy.
Working for the Government
Starting in the Civil Service
In 1904, Salter began his career in the British Civil Service. This meant he worked for the British government. He started in the transport department of the British Admiralty, which was in charge of the navy. He also worked on national insurance and as a private secretary. By 1913, he was promoted to Assistant Secretary.
World War I Efforts
When World War I began, Salter returned to the Admiralty. He became the director of ship requisitioning, meaning he helped the government take control of ships for the war effort. He was sent to Washington D.C. to encourage the United States to build more ships.
From 1917 to 1918, he worked with Jean Monnet on a committee that managed shipping for the Allied countries.
After the War: International Cooperation
In 1919, Salter became the secretary of the Supreme Economic Council in Paris. This group helped deal with economic issues after the war.
From 1920 to 1922, he was the first Secretary General of the Reparation Commission. This group was set up by the Treaty of Versailles to decide how Germany would pay for war damages.
After this, Salter joined Jean Monnet again at the League of Nations in Geneva. The League of Nations was an early international organization that aimed to promote peace. Salter led the Economic and Financial Section. In this role, he helped countries like Austria and Hungary stabilize their money. He also helped resettle refugees in Greece and Bulgaria.
Return to London and New Roles
In 1930, Salter moved back to London. He worked as a journalist and wrote books. In 1932, he led a conference about road and rail transport. This conference looked at the real costs and benefits of different ways of moving goods and people. Its findings were known as the Salter Report. It suggested changes to how public roads were paid for, especially with more cars and trucks being used.
In 1934, he became a professor at Oxford University, teaching political theory. He also became a fellow at All Souls College, Oxford.
Political Career
Member of Parliament
Arthur Salter became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Oxford University in 1937. He served as an independent MP until 1950.
World War II Contributions
When World War II started in 1939, Salter again helped with shipping. He became the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping.
In 1940, he supported Jean Monnet's idea for a Franco-British Union. This was a plan to unite Britain and France politically to stand strong against Nazi Germany.
From 1941 to 1943, Salter led the British shipping mission in Washington. There, he worked with Monnet again on the Victory Program, which was a huge plan to build up military supplies.
In 1941, he became a Privy Counsellor, a special advisor to the King. In 1944, he became a deputy director for the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, which helped people affected by the war. He also served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for a short time in 1945 under Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
Later Political Roles
From 1951 to 1953, Salter was a Conservative MP for Ormskirk. During this time, he served as Minister of State for Economic Affairs and later as Minister of Materials in 1952. Prime Minister Winston Churchill was said to have highly respected Salter's economic knowledge.
In the mid-1950s, he was invited to join the Development Board of the Iraqi government. He wrote a report on industrial development for Iraq, which became known as "the Salter report" for Iraq.
Later Life and Honours
On October 16, 1953, James Arthur Salter was given the title of Baron Salter, of Kidlington in Oxfordshire. This meant he became a member of the House of Lords.
Throughout his career, he received many awards. He was made a Companion of the Bath in 1918, a Knight Commander of the Bath in 1922, and a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) in 1944.
Lord Salter passed away on June 27, 1975, at the age of 94. Since he had no children to inherit his title, his peerage (his noble title) ended when he died.
