David Lindsay, 27th Earl of Crawford facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Right Honourable The Earl of Crawford and Balcarres KT PC DL FRS FSA
Minister of Transport
In office 12 April 1922 – 19 October 1922
Monarch	George V
Prime Minister	David Lloyd George
Preceded by	The Viscount Peel
Succeeded by	Sir John Baird, Bt
First Commissioner of Works
In office 1 April 1921 – 19 October 1922
Monarch	George V
Prime Minister	David Lloyd George
Preceded by	Sir Alfred Mond, Bt
Succeeded by	Sir John Baird, Bt
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
In office 10 January 1919 – 1 April 1921
Monarch	George V
Prime Minister	David Lloyd George
Preceded by	The Lord Downham
Succeeded by	The Viscount Peel
Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal
In office 15 December 1916 – 10 January 1919
Monarch	George V
Prime Minister	David Lloyd George
Preceded by	The Earl Curzon of Kedleston
Succeeded by	Bonar Law
President of the Board of Agriculture
In office 11 July 1916 – 5 December 1916
Monarch	George V
Prime Minister	H. H. Asquith
Preceded by	The Earl of Selborne
Succeeded by	Rowland Prothero
Lord Commissioner of the Treasury
In office 11 October 1903 – 4 December 1905
Monarch	Edward VII
Prime Minister	Arthur Balfour
Preceded by	Henry Torrens Anstruther
Succeeded by	Herbert Lewis
Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal
In office 1 February 1913 – 8 March 1940 Hereditary Peerage
Preceded by	The 26th Earl of Crawford
Succeeded by	The 28th Earl of Crawford
Member of Parliament for Chorley
In office 7 June 1895 – 31 January 1913
Preceded by	Joseph Feilden
Succeeded by	Henry Hibbert
Personal details
Born	(1871-10-10)10 October 1871 Dunecht, Aberdeenshire
Died	8 March 1940(1940-03-08) (aged 68)
Nationality	British
Political party	Conservative
Spouse	Constance Pelly (d. 1947)
Children	8
Alma mater	Magdalen College, Oxford
Military service
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch/service	British Army
Battles/wars	World War I Western Front

David Alexander Edward Lindsay (born October 10, 1871 – died March 8, 1940) was a British politician. He was known as the 27th Earl of Crawford and 10th Earl of Balcarres. He was also an expert in art.

Early Life and Education

David Lindsay was born in Dunecht, Aberdeenshire. He was the oldest son of James Lindsay, the 26th Earl of Crawford. His mother was Emily Florence. David went to Eton College and then to Magdalen College, Oxford for his education.

His family owned many coal mines in Lancashire Coalfield near Wigan. They had a large home called Haigh Hall there. David later became the chairman of the Wigan Coal and Iron Company.

Military Service in World War I

Before World War I, David was a Captain in the 1st (Volunteer) Battalion, Manchester Regiment. He left this role in 1903. When World War I began, he was 43 years old. He surprised many people by joining the Royal Army Medical Corps as a private soldier. This was unusual because people from noble families usually became officers.

He chose to work in a front-line medical station near Hazebrouck. This station treated many injured soldiers, sometimes up to 1,000 a day. His experiences there made him think differently about officers. His diaries from this time were published in 2013. The book was called Private Lord Crawford's Great War Diaries.

Achievements and Interests

David Lindsay became a member of important groups. He joined the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1900. This group studies old objects and history. In 1924, he became a member of the Royal Society, which is for top scientists. He also received a special award called the Order of the Thistle in 1921.

He once joked that people knew him as a Scottish Earl. But he felt he was really a coal merchant from Lancashire. He was also a trustee of the National Portrait Gallery (London). This gallery displays portraits of famous British people.

Political Career

David Lindsay started his political career in 1895. He was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Chorley. From 1903 to 1905, he worked as a Junior Lord of the Treasury. This was a role in the government under Prime Minister Arthur Balfour.

When his political party lost power in 1905, he became the Chief Conservative Whip. This meant he helped organize his party's MPs in the British House of Commons. In 1913, his father passed away. David then became the Earl of Crawford and joined the House of Lords.

In July 1916, he became the President of the Board of Agriculture. This was a big job in the government of Prime Minister H. H. Asquith. He was also part of the cabinet, which is a group of top government ministers.

When David Lloyd George became Prime Minister in December 1916, David Lindsay got a new role. He became the Lord Privy Seal. In 1919, he was made Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Later, in 1921, he became the First Commissioner of Works. This role involved managing government buildings. In 1922, he also became the Minister of Transport. He kept these jobs until the government changed in October 1922.

Later Life and Family

After his time in government, David Lindsay continued to be active. He was the Chancellor of the Victoria University of Manchester from 1923 to 1940. He also served as a Deputy Lieutenant for Lancashire.

David Lindsay married Constance Lilian Pelly in 1900. They had eight children together. They had two sons and six daughters. Their children were:

• David Alexander Robert Lindsay (1900–1975), who became the 28th Earl of Crawford.
• Lady Margaret Cynthia Lindsay (1902–1997).
• Lady Cynthia Anne Lindsay (1904–1997).
• Hon James Louis Lindsay (1906–1997), who also became a Member of Parliament.
• Lady Elizabeth Patricia Lindsay (1908–1937).
• Lady Mary Lilian Lindsay (1910–2004). She married a man who later became the Lord Chancellor. Their daughter, Eliza Manningham-Buller, became the Director-General of MI5.
• Lady Katharine Constance Lindsay (1912–1972).
• Lady Barbara Lindsay (1915–2001).

Lord Crawford passed away in March 1940, at the age of 68. His oldest son, David, took over his titles. His wife, Constance, passed away in 1947.