George Hennessy, 1st Baron Windlesham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Right Honourable The Lord Windlesham OBE
Member of Parliament for Winchester
Personal details
Born	George Richard James Hennessy 23 March 1877 Château de Bagnolet, Cognac, France
Died	8 October 1953
Political party	Conservative

George Richard James Hennessy, 1st Baron Windlesham (born March 23, 1877 – died October 8, 1953) was an important British soldier and politician. He was a member of the Conservative Party. He also received the OBE award, which is given for great service to the country.

Who Was Lord Windlesham?

George Hennessy came from a French-Irish noble family. He was known for his service in the military and his long career in politics. He held several important roles in the British government.

Early Life and Family

George Hennessy was born in France. His parents were Richard and Marthe Hennessy. They were cousins from a famous family known for making cognac, a type of brandy. His parents later separated. His mother moved to England with her children. She remarried in 1888 to James Sholto Douglas.

Even though they moved, the family kept ties with their relatives in France. However, they stopped being involved in the cognac business. In 1898, George Hennessy married Ethel Mary Wynter.

Serving His Country

George Hennessy served as a Major in the King's Royal Rifle Corps during the First World War. He also worked on the Staff of the 8th Division. This means he helped plan military operations.

After the war, he became a Member of Parliament (MP) in 1918. An MP is someone elected to represent people in the British Parliament. He represented the area of Winchester. He held this job until 1931.

A Career in Politics

During his time as an MP, George Hennessy held several important government positions. He worked under Prime Ministers Bonar Law and Stanley Baldwin.

• From 1922 to 1924, and again from 1924 to 1925, he was a Junior Lord of the Treasury. This role involved helping manage the government's money.
• From 1925 to 1928, he was the Vice-Chamberlain of the Household. This was a ceremonial role in the Royal Household.
• From 1928 to 1929, he became the Treasurer of the Household. He held this position again briefly in 1931.

From 1931 to 1941, he was the Vice-Chairman of the Conservative and Unionist Party. This meant he helped lead the party.

Becoming a Baron

In 1927, George Hennessy was given the title of Baronet. This is a special honor from the King or Queen. Then, in 1937, he was given an even higher title. He became Baron Windlesham, which made him a member of the House of Lords.

George Hennessy passed away in October 1953 when he was 76 years old. His oldest son, James Hennessy, inherited his titles. James was a brigadier in the Grenadier Guards, another military role. Later, James's son, David Hennessy, 3rd Baron Windlesham, also became a Conservative politician.

See also

• Ó hAonghusa

Images for kids

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  This is a coronet, a type of crown worn by a Baron.

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  This image shows the coat of arms for the Windlesham family.