Donald Somervell, Baron Somervell of Harrow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Somervell of Harrow
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Somervell in 1945 by Walter Stoneman
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| Lord of Appeal in Ordinary | |
| In office 4 October 1954 – 6 January 1960 |
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| Preceded by | The Lord Asquith of Bishopstone |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Morris of Borth-y-Gest |
| Home Secretary | |
| In office 25 May 1945 – 26 July 1945 |
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| Prime Minister | Winston Churchill |
| Preceded by | Herbert Morrison |
| Succeeded by | James Chuter Ede |
| Attorney-General for England | |
| In office 18 March 1936 – 25 May 1945 |
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| Prime Minister | |
| Preceded by | Sir Thomas Inskipp |
| Succeeded by | Sir David Maxwell Fyfe |
| Solicitor-General for England | |
| In office 29 September 1933 – 19 March 1936 |
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| Prime Minister | |
| Preceded by | Sir Boyd Merriman |
| Succeeded by | Sir Terence O'Connor |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 August 1889 Harrow on the Hill, London, England |
| Died | 18 November 1960 (aged 71) Marylebone, London, England |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse |
Loelia Helen Buchan-Hepburn
(m. 1933; died 1945) |
| Alma mater | Magdalen College, Oxford |
Donald Bradley Somervell, Baron Somervell of Harrow (born August 24, 1889 – died November 18, 1960) was an important British lawyer, judge, and politician. He was a member of the Conservative Party. He held several key legal roles in the government. These included Solicitor General and Attorney General from 1933 to 1945. He also briefly served as Home Secretary in Winston Churchill's government in 1945.
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Early Life and Education
Donald Somervell was born in 1889. His father, Robert Somervell, worked at Harrow School. Donald also went to Harrow School. After that, he studied Chemistry at Magdalen College, Oxford. He did very well and graduated in 1911.
In 1912, he became a special fellow at All Souls College, Oxford. This was a big deal because he was the first chemist to get this honor. He then started studying law to become a barrister (a type of lawyer).
War Service and Legal Beginnings
His law studies were stopped by World War I. Donald Somervell joined the British Army. He served in India and Mesopotamia. For his service, he received the OBE award in 1919.
Even while he was away, he officially became a barrister in 1916. After the war, he finished his training. He worked with a famous lawyer named William Jowitt. Donald Somervell became known for his work in business law. He became a King's Counsel in 1929. This is a special title for experienced lawyers.
Becoming a Politician
In 1929, Donald Somervell decided to enter politics. He had always liked the Liberal Party. However, that party was losing power. He admired Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin, so he joined the Conservative Party.
He first tried to become a Member of Parliament (MP) for Crewe in 1929. He didn't win that time. But in the 1931 election, he won the seat. He remained an MP for 14 years.
Important Legal Roles
In 1933, he became the Solicitor General. This is a senior legal advisor to the government. When he got this job, he was made a knight. This means he could use "Sir" before his name.
Three years later, in 1936, he was promoted. He became the Attorney General. This is the main legal advisor to the government. He held this job for nine years. During this time, he helped the government deal with big events. One such event was the Abdication Crisis involving King Edward VIII. He was the longest-serving Attorney General since 1754. In 1938, he joined the Privy Council. This is a group of important advisors to the King or Queen. From 1940 to 1946, he also served as a Recorder (a part-time judge) in Kingston upon Thames.
A Brief Time as Home Secretary
In 1945, he briefly served as Home Secretary. This is a very important government job. The Home Secretary is in charge of law and order. He held this role in Winston Churchill's temporary government. However, both the government and Somervell lost in the general election that year.
Becoming a Judge
After leaving politics, Donald Somervell became a judge. In 1946, he was made a Lord Justice of Appeal. This meant he worked in the Court of Appeal.
In 1951, Winston Churchill became Prime Minister again. But Somervell was not chosen for the top legal job, Lord Chancellor. On October 4, 1954, Somervell became a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary. These judges are also known as Law Lords. They work in the highest court in the UK. When he became a Law Lord, he was given a special title for life. He became Baron Somervell of Harrow. He retired from this role in 1960, shortly before he passed away.
Family Life
Donald Somervell married Loelia Helen Buchan-Hepburn in 1933. She was the daughter of Sir Archibald Buchan-Hepburn. Sadly, Loelia passed away in July 1945 at the age of 48. Donald Somervell lived for another fifteen years. He died in November 1960, when he was 71 years old. His grave is in the churchyard of Saint Mary's Church in Ewelme. It is near the grave of the famous writer Jerome K. Jerome.
Images for kids
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The coat of arms for Baron Somervell of Harrow.
