James Barr (politician) facts for kids

James Barr (born 26 July 1862 – died 1949) was an important Scottish minister and politician. He was first a member of the Liberal Party and later the Labour Party in Britain. He was known for being a pacifist, which means he believed in peace and was against war. He was also a socialist, meaning he believed in fairness and equality for everyone in society. James Barr strongly supported Scotland having more control over its own laws, a minimum wage to ensure fair pay for workers, and the Temperance movement, which encouraged people to drink less alcohol.

About James Barr

His Early Life and Studies

James Barr was born on 26 July 1862. His family lived on a farm called Beanscroft Farm, near a place called Fenwick, East Ayrshire in Scotland. His father, Allan Barr, was a farmer, and his mother was Elizabeth Brown.

He went to Glasgow University and earned a degree in 1884. Later, around 1889, he went back to university to study Divinity, which is the study of religion. He finished this degree in 1892.

Serving as a Minister

In 1889, James Barr became a minister in the Free Church of Scotland. He served in the areas of Johnstone and Wamphray. In 1895, he moved to Dennistoun in east Glasgow to serve as a minister there.

A Career in Politics

James Barr first joined the Liberal Party. However, he later became a member of the Independent Labour Party. This party was a big part of forming the Labour Party. He became a Member of Parliament, or MP, which means he was elected to represent people in the British Parliament.

He was the MP for Motherwell from 1924 to 1931. After that, he was the MP for Coatbridge from 1935 to 1945. He also led a group called The Scottish Home Rule Association. This group wanted Scotland to have its own parliament and make more of its own decisions.

Working for Change in Parliament

From 1929 to 1930, James Barr was the leader of a special group in Parliament. This group was called the Select committee on capital punishment. They studied the laws about capital punishment and shared their findings.

Between 1930 and 1931, he was also the leader of the Liaison Committee. This was a very important role when the Labour Party was in charge of the government.

Standing Up for His Beliefs

As a Presbyterian minister, James Barr had strong beliefs about the church. He thought the church should be separate from the government. He believed the church should support itself through donations, not with money from the state.

Because of these beliefs, he was a key member of the United Free Church of Scotland. He strongly disagreed when this church decided to join with the Church of Scotland in 1929. He and others who felt the same way did not join the merger. They continued as the United Free Church of Scotland, which still exists today. In 1929, he became the first leader, or Moderator of the General Assembly, of this continuing church.

When he first spoke in Parliament as an MP, his speech was about the Church of Scotland (Property and Endowments) Act of 1925. He spoke for almost an hour and a half, explaining why he disagreed with parts of this law.

His Family Life

In 1890, James Barr married Martha Wilson Stephen. They had five children together. Their youngest child, Elizabeth Barr, also became a minister. She was the first woman in Scotland to be a Presbyterian minister.

James Barr was also the grandfather of James Barr (biblical scholar), who became a well-known scholar of the Bible.