Lord Colum Crichton-Stuart facts for kids
Lord Colum Edmund Crichton-Stuart was an important person in British politics and diplomacy. He was born on April 3, 1886, and lived until August 18, 1957. He came from a famous family and spent his life serving his country in different ways. He worked as a diplomat in other countries and later became a Member of Parliament in the UK.
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Early Life and Education
Lord Colum was born Columba, the fourth child of the 3rd Marquess of Bute, John Patrick Crichton-Stuart. His mother was the Honourable Gwendolen Mary Anne Fitzalan-Howard. He went to two well-known schools in England: Harrow and Christ Church at Oxford University. Later in life, he married Elizabeth Caroline Petty-Fitzmaurice.
A Career in Diplomacy
Lord Colum began his career in the diplomatic service, which means he worked for the British government in other countries.
Starting as an Attaché
He became an Attaché on June 11, 1910. An Attaché is a junior diplomat who helps with official duties. He passed a special exam on February 18, 1911.
Working in Cairo
His first assignment was in Cairo, Egypt, starting October 28, 1911. He worked at the British Consulate-General under Lord Kitchener, a very famous British officer.
Royal Duties and Languages
In 1911, Lord Colum was a Gold Staff Officer at the Coronation of King George V. He even received a special medal for this event. He was very good at languages and knew seven of them! He received extra pay for his knowledge of Arabic in June 1912.
Promotions and Resignation
He was promoted to 3rd Secretary on May 10, 1913. He then moved to the Foreign Office in London in November 1914. Later, he worked in Christiania (now Oslo, Norway) in May 1916, before returning to the Foreign Office in September 1916. He became a 2nd Secretary on April 1, 1919, but decided to leave the diplomatic service on May 1, 1919.
Political Life and Public Service
After his diplomatic career, Lord Colum entered politics and continued to serve the public.
First Election Attempt
In December 1918, Lord Colum tried to become a Member of Parliament (MP) for Cardiff East. This was a seat his brother, Lord Ninian, had held before. However, Lord Colum lost this election to William Seager.
Serving as an MP
His work in the civil service ended in 1920. He then successfully became a Member of Parliament for the Northwich area in Cheshire. He held this important position for many years, from 1922 until 1945.
Supporting a Religious Community
In 1945, Lord Colum made a significant gift. He gave Pluscarden Priory in Moray, Scotland, to the Benedictine community from Prinknash Abbey in Gloucestershire. This allowed the monks to use Pluscarden as a new monastery.
Lord-Lieutenant of Bute
From 1953 to 1957, Lord Colum held the title of Lord-Lieutenant of Bute. A Lord-Lieutenant is the King's personal representative in a county or area.
Later Life
Lord Colum passed away in 1957. He collapsed while attending a church service at St. Andrew's Roman Catholic Church in Rothesay. He was 71 years old.
