Henry Hepburne-Scott, 10th Lord Polwarth facts for kids

Henry Alexander Hepburne-Scott, 10th Lord Polwarth (born 17 November 1916 – died 4 January 2005) was an important Scottish figure. He was a chartered accountant (a financial expert), a successful businessman, and a Conservative politician. He held many key roles throughout his life.

Early Life and Education

Henry Alexander Hepburne-Scott was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was the oldest son of Walter Thomas Hepburne-Scott. His grandfather was the 9th Lord Polwarth.

He went to two well-known schools. First, he studied at Eton College, a famous boarding school. After that, he attended King's College, Cambridge, one of the top universities in the UK.

Serving in World War II

During the Second World War, Henry Polwarth served his country. He was a Captain in the Lothians and Border Horse, a military unit. He also worked as an Aide-de-Camp, which means he was a personal assistant to high-ranking generals like Percy Hobart and Brian Horrocks.

In 1944, he became the 10th Lord Polwarth. This happened after his grandfather passed away. His father had died earlier in 1942 due to an illness he got during the war. In 1945, he was chosen to be a Scottish Representative Peer. This meant he could represent Scotland in the House of Lords.

A Career in Business and Finance

Lord Polwarth had a very active career in business. He worked as a partner at Cheine & Tait, a firm of chartered accountants, from 1950 to 1968. This shows his expertise in finance.

He also served on the boards of many large companies. From 1969 to 1972, he was a Director at Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). This was a major chemical company.

Leading Scottish Industry

Lord Polwarth played a big part in helping Scottish businesses grow. He was the Chairman of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry. He held this important role from 1956 to 1966. Later, he became its President from 1966 to 1972.

He also led a major insurance company. From 1968 to 1972, he was the Chairman of the General Accident Insurance Group.

Banking Leadership

His financial skills were also used in banking. He was a Director of the Bank of Scotland for many years. He served on its board from 1950 to 1971, and again from 1974 to 1981. He even became the Governor of the Bank of Scotland from 1968 to 1972. This was a very high position in the Scottish banking world.

Political Life

In 1972, Lord Polwarth took on a significant political role. He was appointed Minister of State for Scotland. This meant he was a key minister in the government. He worked for the Conservative government led by Prime Minister Edward Heath.

He served as Minister of State until 1974. At that time, the Conservative Party lost power in the general election.

Return to Business and Parliament

After his time as a minister, Lord Polwarth went back to the business world. He rejoined Imperial Chemical Industries as a Director from 1974 to 1981. He also served on the boards of other international companies. These included the Sun Life Assurance Co of Canada and the Canadian Pacific Railway. He was also a Director for Halliburton Co.

From 1984 to 1985, he was a member of a special committee. This was the House of Lords Select Committee on Overseas Trade. He continued to be a member of the House of Lords until 1999. That year, the House of Lords Act 1999 changed who could be a member.

Chancellor of Aberdeen University

Beyond his work in business and politics, Lord Polwarth had an important role in education. He was the Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen. He held this position for a long time, from 1966 to 1986. The Chancellor is usually the ceremonial head of a university.

In 1968, he received an Honorary Doctorate from Heriot-Watt University. This was a special award to recognize his achievements.

Family Life

Lord Polwarth was married twice. His first marriage was to Caroline Margaret in 1943. They had one son and three daughters together. They later divorced in 1969.

In 1969, he married Jean. She was the daughter of Admiral Sir Angus Cunninghame Graham.

Lord Polwarth passed away in January 2005. He was 88 years old. His only son, Andrew, succeeded him as the next Lord Polwarth.