Godfrey Elton, 1st Baron Elton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Elton
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| Member of the House of Lords | |
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Lord Temporal
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| as a hereditary peer 16 January 1934 – 18 April 1973 |
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| Preceded by | Peerage created |
| Succeeded by | The 2nd Baron Elton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 March 1892 Sherington, Oxfordshire, England |
| Died | 18 April 1973 (aged 81) Nottinghamshire, England |
| Political party | Labour |
| Education | Balliol College, Oxford |
Godfrey Elton, 1st Baron Elton (born March 29, 1892 – died April 18, 1973) was an important British historian and politician. He was also known as Lord Elton.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Godfrey Elton was born in 1892. He was the oldest son of Edward Fiennes Elton and Violet Hylda Fletcher. He went to Rugby School and then to Balliol College, Oxford, which are both famous schools in England.
At Oxford, he first studied classics, which means ancient Greek and Roman history and literature. He did very well in his exams in 1913. Later, he changed his focus to history.
However, he didn't finish his history degree because World War I started in August 1914. Godfrey Elton joined the army in September 1914. He fought in a part of the war called the Mesopotamian campaign. He was hurt during a battle called the siege of Kut-el-Amara. After the battle, he was captured by the Turkish army in April 1916.
After the war ended, Elton returned to Oxford. In 1919, he became a Fellow at Queen's College, Oxford. This meant he was a senior member of the college. He taught modern history there from 1919 to 1939. He also served as the dean of the college (a leader) from 1921 to 1923 and as a tutor from 1927 to 1934. In 1923, he wrote a book called The Revolutionary Idea in France, 1789–1878.
Political Career
Godfrey Elton was also very interested in politics. After World War I, he joined the Labour Party. He tried to become a Member of Parliament for the area of Thornbury in the 1924 and 1929 elections, but he didn't win.
He was a strong supporter of Ramsay MacDonald, who was a very important politician at the time. MacDonald's son, Malcolm, had even been one of Elton's students at Oxford. When Ramsay MacDonald formed a new political group called National Labour, Elton followed him.
In 1934, Ramsay MacDonald made Godfrey Elton a Baron. This meant he became a member of the House of Lords, which is part of the British Parliament. He was given the title Baron Elton, of Headington in Oxfordshire.
Lord Elton often spoke in the House of Lords. He also served on several government committees, helping to make important decisions for the country.
Rhodes Trust Work
In 1939, Godfrey Elton stopped teaching at Queen's College. That same year, he became the secretary of the Rhodes Trust. This organization helps students from around the world get scholarships to study at Oxford University. He held this important job until 1959.
As an Author
Godfrey Elton wrote several books. One of his most famous books was a biography of Ramsay MacDonald, called The Life of James Ramsay MacDonald 1866–1919. A biography is a book about someone's life.
In 1938, he also wrote his own life story, which is called an autobiography. His autobiography was titled Among Others.
Family Life
Lord Elton married Dedi Hartmann in 1921. She was from Oslo, Norway. They had three children together:
- Hon. Audrey Elton (born 1922)
- Hon. Rosemary Elton (1925 – 2017)
- Rodney Elton, 2nd Baron Elton (1930 – 2023)
Lord Elton passed away on April 18, 1973, when he was 81 years old. His son, Rodney, inherited his title and became the 2nd Baron Elton. Rodney also became a government minister for the Conservative Party. Lady Elton died a few years later in 1977.
Images for kids
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A coronet of a Baron
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The coat of arms of the Elton family
