Sir John Gilmour, 2nd Baronet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir John Gilmour
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| Home Secretary | |
| In office 1 October 1932 – 7 June 1935 |
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| Prime Minister | Ramsay MacDonald |
| Preceded by | Sir Herbert Samuel |
| Succeeded by | Sir John Simon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 May 1876 Montrave, Fife, Scotland |
| Died | 30 March 1940 (aged 63) London, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Unionist |
| Spouses | Mary Louise Lambert Violet Agnes Lambert Lady Mary Cecilia Hamilton |
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh Trinity Hall, Cambridge |
Sir John Gilmour, the 2nd Baronet, was an important Scottish politician. He was born on May 27, 1876, and passed away on March 30, 1940. He was a member of the Unionist Party in Scotland. One of his most notable roles was serving as the Home Secretary for the United Kingdom from 1932 to 1935. This job meant he was in charge of many important things like law and order in the country.
Contents
Early Life and Education
John Gilmour grew up in a family that was already involved in politics. His father, also named Sir John Gilmour, was the chairman of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist party and was given the special title of a baronet in 1897. His mother was Henrietta Gilmour.
Young John went to several schools to get his education. He studied at Trinity College, Glenalmond, then at the University of Edinburgh, and finally at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. These universities are well-known and helped him prepare for his future career.
Military Service and Bravery
Before becoming a politician, Sir John Gilmour had a brave career in the military. He started as a lieutenant in the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, which was a type of volunteer cavalry unit.
Fighting in South Africa
In 1900, he volunteered to serve in the Second Boer War in South Africa. He was part of the 6th Battalion of the Imperial Yeomanry. He sailed from Liverpool to South Africa in March 1900. For his service, he received the Queen's South Africa Medal and was mentioned in official reports twice for his bravery. This means his commanders, including famous generals like Lord Roberts and Lord Kitchener, praised his actions. His letters from this war were later published in a book called "Clearly My Duty."
World War I and Beyond
Sir John Gilmour also served in World War I. During this war, he was again mentioned in official reports for his courage and was awarded the DSO with a bar, which means he received the award twice. After the war, he continued to serve and rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, leading the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry. In 1931, he was given the honorary title of Colonel for the same unit.
Political Career and Key Roles
Sir John Gilmour's political journey began with some challenges. He first tried to become a Member of Parliament (MP) for East Fife in 1906 but did not win.
Becoming an MP
However, he was successful later. He was elected as an MP for East Renfrewshire in 1910 and served there until 1918. After that, he represented Glasgow Pollok from 1918 until his death in 1940.
Important Government Positions
He held several important roles in the government:
- From 1921 to 1922, he was a Junior Lord of the Treasury. This role involved helping manage the government's money.
- He served as the Scottish Unionist Whip from 1919 to 1922 and again in 1924. A whip's job is to make sure party members vote together.
- In 1924, he became the Secretary for Scotland. This was a very important job, overseeing Scottish affairs.
- In 1926, his role was upgraded, and he became the first ever Secretary of State for Scotland.
- Later in his career, during the early part of World War II, he served as the Minister of Shipping. This meant he was in charge of all ships and sea transport for Britain during the war.
Sir John Gilmour passed away while still serving as Minister of Shipping on March 30, 1940, in London.
Other Achievements and Honors
Beyond his military and political work, Sir John Gilmour was involved in many other activities:
- He was the Master of the Fife Fox Hounds from 1902 to 1906, which meant he led fox hunting events.
- He was a member of the Fife County Council from 1901 to 1910, helping to manage local affairs in Fife.
- He served as the Rector of the University of Edinburgh from 1926 to 1929. This is an important ceremonial role at the university.
- He received honorary degrees from the University of Glasgow (1925), the University of Edinburgh (1927), and the University of St Andrews (1929). These degrees recognized his achievements.
- He was a Brigadier with the Royal Company of Archers, a ceremonial unit that acts as the monarch's bodyguard in Scotland.
- In 1936, he became the Vice-Lieutenant for the County of Fife.
- In 1935, he was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO), a high honor given by the monarch.
Family Life
Sir John Gilmour was married twice. His first wife was Mary Louise Lambert, whom he married in 1902. They had two children:
- Anne Margaret, born in 1909.
- John, born in 1912, who later became the 3rd Baronet.
After Mary Louise passed away in 1919, he married her younger sister, Violet Agnes Lambert, in 1920. They had one daughter, Daphne, born in 1922.
His children also achieved success. His eldest daughter, Dame Anne Margaret Bryans, worked for the British Red Cross Society and held important positions in many hospitals. His son, Sir John Gilmour, 3rd Baronet, followed in his footsteps and also had a successful political career.
His great-nephew, George Younger, 4th Viscount Younger of Leckie, also became a Conservative MP and served as Scottish Secretary.
Images for kids
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Sir John Gilmour, 2nd Baronet
