Daniel Hopkin facts for kids

Major Daniel Hopkin (born in July 1886, died in August 1951) was a brave British soldier, a lawyer, and a politician. He was a member of the Labour Party. He even won a special award for his bravery in war, called the Military Cross.

Early Life

Growing Up and School

Daniel Hopkin was born in a place called Llantwit Major in South Wales. His father was a farm worker who sadly died when Daniel was only seven years old.

After finishing elementary school, Daniel became a teacher at Llantwit Major School. He taught there until 1905. Then, he left to study more at Carmarthen Training College. He was very smart and won a special scholarship to study law at St Catharine's College, Cambridge, which is a famous university.

Soldier in Two Wars

During the First World War, Daniel Hopkin became an officer in the Royal Fusiliers, a part of the British Army. He showed great courage and was given the Military Cross in 1916. This award is for showing outstanding bravery in battle.

After the war, he worked in business in Cairo for four years. Then, he trained to become a barrister, which is a type of lawyer. He worked as a lawyer in South Wales. When the Second World War began in 1939, he rejoined the army.

Politics

Becoming a Member of Parliament

Daniel Hopkin decided to become a politician. He was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the 1929 general election. An MP is someone elected by people to represent them in the country's government, called Parliament.

He represented the area of Carmarthen in South Wales. This was a big deal because he was the first Labour MP for that area. Before him, people from the Liberal Party usually won there. He had tried to win the seat before, in 1928, but just barely lost.

Losing and Regaining His Seat

In the 1931 general election, Daniel Hopkin lost his seat. This happened because the Labour Party faced some challenges across the country.

However, he didn't give up! He ran again in the 1935 general election and won back his seat with a large number of votes. He continued to be an MP until 1941. At that time, he resigned from Parliament to become a Metropolitan Police magistrate. A magistrate is a type of judge who deals with less serious legal cases.

His Son's Legacy

Daniel Hopkin's son, Sir David Hopkin, also became a magistrate. He was well-known for being the Chairman and later the President of the British Boxing Board of Control, which manages professional boxing in the UK.