Robert Hutchison, 1st Baron Hutchison of Montrose facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Hutchison of Montrose
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Sir Robert Hutchison in 1923
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| Born | 5 September 1873 |
| Died | 13 June 1950 (aged 76) |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Rank | Major-General |
| Battles/wars | Second Boer War First World War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Mentioned in Despatches (6) Legion of Honour (France) Order of the Crown (Belgium) Croix de guerre (Belgium) Army Distinguished Service Medal (United States) |
Robert Hutchison (born September 5, 1873 – died June 13, 1950) was an important Scottish soldier and politician. He became a high-ranking Major-General in the army. Later, he was a member of the British Parliament and even became a Lord, known as the 1st Baron Hutchison of Montrose.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Robert Hutchison grew up in Kirkcaldy, Scotland. His father was Alexander Hutchison. Robert also had a younger brother, Balfour, who also became a high-ranking general in the British Army.
Military Career
Robert Hutchison started his army career as a lieutenant in the Fife Artillery in 1900. He quickly moved up the ranks. He became a lieutenant in the 7th Dragoon Guards.
Serving in Wars
Hutchison served in two major wars. First, he fought in the Second Boer War in South Africa. This war happened from 1899 to 1902. He was a captain during this time. After the war, he returned home in 1902.
Later, he served in the First World War (1914–1918). He held important roles, including General Staff Officer. From 1917 to 1919, he was a temporary major general. He helped organize the army from the War Office.
Awards and Honors
For his bravery and service, Robert Hutchison received many awards. He was mentioned in official reports six times. This means his actions were specially noted for being brave or important.
Some of his top awards included:
- The Distinguished Service Order (1915)
- The Companion of the Order of the Bath (1918)
- He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (1919). This meant he could be called "Sir Robert."
He also received honors from other countries:
- The Belgian Order of the Crown and Croix de guerre
- The French Legion of Honour
- The American Army Distinguished Service Medal
He retired from the army in 1923.
Political Career
After his military career, Robert Hutchison became a politician. He was a member of the Liberal Party.
Member of Parliament
He was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Kirkcaldy Burghs from 1922 to 1923. An MP is a person elected to represent a group of people in the British Parliament.
He then represented Montrose Burghs from 1924 to 1932. He worked as a "Whip" for the Liberal Party. A Whip makes sure that members of their party vote in a certain way. He was even the Chief Liberal Whip from 1926 to 1930.
Becoming a Lord
In 1932, he left the House of Commons. He was then given the title of Baron Hutchison of Montrose. This meant he became a Lord and could sit in the House of Lords.
From 1935 to 1938, he served as Paymaster General. This was a government job where he managed payments for the government. In 1937, he became a Privy Counsellor. This is a group of important advisors to the King or Queen.
Besides his military and political work, he was also involved in business. He was a director for banks and insurance companies.
Personal Life
Lord Hutchison of Montrose was married twice. First, he married Agnes Drysdale in 1905. After she passed away, he married Alma Cowes in 1942. He died in June 1950, when he was 76 years old. Since he had no children to inherit his title, the title of Baron Hutchison of Montrose ended with him.
