John Gretton, 1st Baron Gretton facts for kids
1900 Olympic Gold Medalist in sailing
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
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| Nationality | British | ||||||||||||||||
| Born | 1 September 1867 Newton Solney |
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| Died | 2 June 1947 (aged 79) Melton Mowbray |
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| Sailing career | |||||||||||||||||
| Class(es) | .5 to 1 ton Open class |
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Medal record
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| Updated on 8 May 2015. | |||||||||||||||||
John Gretton, 1st Baron Gretton (born September 1, 1867 – died June 2, 1947) was a famous British businessman and politician. He was a member of the Conservative Party. John Gretton won two gold medals in sailing at the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris. He was also a Member of Parliament (MP) for a very long time, serving for 46 years!
Contents
John Gretton's Life and Career
John Gretton was born in 1867. He was the oldest son of John Gretton and Marianne Molineux. He went to Harrow School, which is a famous school in England.
His Business Life
John Gretton became the head of a big brewing company called Bass, Ratcliff and Gretton Ltd in 1908. He led the company for many years, until 1945. This shows he was a very successful businessman.
His Military Service
Gretton was also involved in the military as a volunteer officer. He served in the North Staffordshire Regiment and became a high-ranking officer, a colonel. When World War I started, he was in charge of a battalion (a large group of soldiers).
His Political Journey
John Gretton was elected to the House of Commons in 1895. The House of Commons is where elected politicians make laws for the country. He was an MP for different areas:
- Derbyshire South from 1895 to 1906
- Rutland from 1907 to 1918
- Burton from 1918 to 1943
This means he served as an MP for almost five decades!
Important Political Moments
John Gretton was known for being a strong voice in politics. In 1922, he gave a speech that helped change the government at the time. Later, in 1929, he made sure the British Government kept its promise to pay back certain people from Ireland.
In 1940, he again played a part in changing the government, leading to a new leader during World War II. He strongly believed in fighting the war. People sometimes called him "an old Tory," which is another name for a Conservative politician.
His Family Life
In 1900, John Gretton married Maud Helen Eveleigh de Moleyns. They had three children together:
- John Frederic
- Kathleen Fanny
- Mary Catherine Hersey
He passed away in June 1947 at the age of 79. His son, John Gretton, 2nd Baron Gretton, took over his title.
Olympic Gold Medalist
John Gretton was a very talented sailor. He won two gold medals at the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris. What's really special is that he won these medals while he was already a Member of Parliament! This is quite rare.
Images for kids
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The grave of John Gretton, 1st Baron Gretton, in the graveyard of St Mary Magdalene's Church, Stapleford
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The memorial to John Gretton, 1st Baron Gretton, in St Mary Magdalene's Church, Stapleford
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A Baron's coronet, part of the Gretton family's coat of arms.
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The shield from the Gretton family's coat of arms.
