George Mathers, 1st Baron Mathers facts for kids
George Mathers, 1st Baron Mathers (born 28 February 1886 – died 26 September 1965) was an important Scottish politician. He was a member of the Labour Party and also a trade union leader.
Mathers held several key roles in the British government. He was the Comptroller of the Household from 1944 to 1945 during Winston Churchill's government. Later, he served as the Treasurer of the Household (which is like a Deputy Chief Whip) from 1945 to 1946 under Clement Attlee's Labour government.
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Mathers
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| Comptroller of the Household | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 2 October 1944 – 23 May 1945 |
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| Monarch | George VI | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Winston Churchill | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | William John | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Leslie Pym | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Treasurer of the Household | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 4 August 1945 – 30 March 1946 |
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| Monarch | George VI | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Clement Attlee | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Sir James Edmondson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Arthur Pearson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 28 February 1886 Newtown St Boswells, Roxburghshire |
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| Died | 26 September 1965 (aged 79) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | British | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Labour | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouses |
Edith Robinson
(died 1938)Jessie Graham
(m. 1940) |
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Contents
Early Life and Education
George Mathers was born in Newtown St Boswells, a town in Roxburghshire, Scotland. His father, also named George Mathers, was a Justice of the Peace. George Mathers went to school in Newtown St Boswells.
Working Life and Trade Unions
In 1899, when he was 13, Mathers started working as a clerk for the North British Railway. From 1908, he became very active in the trade union movement. Trade unions are groups that work to protect the rights and improve the working conditions of employees.
He became the President of the Carlisle Trades Council and Labour Party from 1917 to 1920. In 1919, he was elected as a member of the Carlisle City Council. In 1921, he moved to Edinburgh and continued his work there.
Political Journey
Mathers was a strong supporter of the Labour Party. He was the Chairman of the Independent Labour Party in Edinburgh Central. He also led the Edinburgh branch of the Scottish Home Rule Association, which wanted more self-governance for Scotland.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
Mathers first tried to become a Member of Parliament (MP) for Edinburgh West in 1923 and 1924, but he didn't win. However, he was successfully elected as the MP for Edinburgh West in 1929. He lost this seat in 1931.
In 1935, he was elected as the MP for Linlithgowshire. He continued to represent this area, which was renamed West Lothian in 1950, until he decided not to run again in the 1951 general election.
Roles in Government
From 1929, Mathers worked as a Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS). This role involves helping a government minister. He worked for the Under-Secretary of State for India and then for the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies.
From 1935 to 1945, he was a Scottish Labour Whip. Whips are MPs who make sure that other MPs in their party vote in a certain way.
In October 1944, during World War II, Mathers joined Winston Churchill's government as the Comptroller of the Household. This was a role in the Royal Household, often held by an MP. He held this position until the war-time government ended in May 1945.
When the Labour Party won the election in July 1945, Clement Attlee became Prime Minister. Mathers was then appointed Treasurer of the Household. This role is also part of the Royal Household and involves being a Deputy Chief Whip for the government. He stayed in this role until April 1946.
Becoming a Baron
In 1947, George Mathers became a member of the Privy Council. This is a group of senior advisors to the British monarch.
On 30 January 1952, he was given a special honour. He was made a Baron, which is a type of peerage. His full title became Baron Mathers, of Newtown St Boswells in the County of Roxburgh. This was to recognise his important "political and public services" to the country. This was the last time a Labour Prime Minister recommended someone for a hereditary peerage, meaning the title could be passed down through the family. However, when Lord Mathers died, he had no children to pass the title to, so it ended with him.
Other Important Roles
Mathers also served as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1946, 1947, 1948, and 1951. This is a special role where he represented the monarch at the Church of Scotland's main meeting.
In 1946, he was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Edinburgh. In 1956, he received another high honour: he was made a Knight of the Thistle. The Order of the Thistle is one of the highest honours in Scotland, given by the monarch.
Family Life
Lord Mathers was married twice. His first wife was Edith Mary Robinson. They married in 1916. Edith passed away in June 1938. In 1940, he married his second wife, Jessie Graham.
George Mathers died in September 1965, when he was 79 years old. Since he had no children, his title of Baron Mathers ended when he died.
