Tam Galbraith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Thomas Galbraith
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| Member of Parliament for Glasgow Hillhead |
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| In office 25 November 1948 – 2 January 1982 |
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| Preceded by | James Reid |
| Succeeded by | Roy Jenkins |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Thomas Galloway Dunlop Galbraith
10 March 1917 |
| Died | 2 January 1982 (aged 64) Mauchline, Ayrshire Scotland |
| Citizenship | United Kingdom |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Political party | Unionist (until 1965) Conservative (until 1982) |
| Spouse | Simone du Roy de Blicquy |
| Children | Ghislaine Kennerley, Thomas Galbraith, Charles Galbraith |
| Alma mater | Christ Church, Oxford University of Glasgow |
| Nickname | Tam Galbraith |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch/service | Royal Navy Reserve |
| Years of service | 1939–1946 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Sir Thomas Galloway Dunlop Galbraith, known as Tam Galbraith, was an important Scottish politician. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for many years. He worked for the Unionist Party and later the Conservative Party. He was born on March 10, 1917, and passed away on January 2, 1982.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Thomas Galbraith grew up in Scotland. He was the oldest son of Thomas Galbraith, 1st Baron Strathclyde. He went to several schools, including Aytoun House in Glasgow and Wellington College.
He also studied at two universities. He earned a Master of Arts (MA) degree from Christ Church, Oxford. Later, he studied law and earned a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Glasgow.
During World War II, Thomas Galbraith served his country. He was a lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. He served in the navy from 1939 to 1946.
Becoming a Politician
Thomas Galbraith wanted to become a Member of Parliament (MP). An MP is someone elected to represent a local area in the UK Parliament. He tried to win elections in 1945 in two different areas, Paisley and Edinburgh East, but he did not win.
However, he kept trying. In 1948, there was a special election called a by-election in Glasgow Hillhead. He won this election and became the MP for Glasgow Hillhead. He won with a larger number of votes than the previous MP.
People noticed his success. The Glasgow Herald newspaper said it was a "notable achievement" for a young candidate. They praised his win, especially since he increased his party's lead.
Roles in Government
After becoming an MP, Thomas Galbraith took on several important roles in the government:
- From 1950, he was an Assistant Conservative Whip. A Whip helps make sure party members vote together.
- From 1951 to 1957, he was a Government Whip.
- From 1957 to 1959, he served as the Civil Lord of the Admiralty. This role involved managing parts of the Royal Navy.
- From 1959 to 1962, he was an Under-Secretary of State for Scotland. This meant he helped the main minister for Scotland.
- From 1963 to 1964, he was the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport. In this job, he helped with transport issues.
Honours and Recognition
Thomas Galbraith was recognized for his contributions. From 1970 to 1980, he was the President of the Scottish Georgian Society. This group works to protect old and important buildings in Scotland.
He was also a Member of the Royal Company of Archers. This is a special group that serves as the monarch's bodyguards in Scotland. In 1981, he was knighted. This meant he received the title "Sir" and became a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE).
His Legacy
Sir Thomas Galbraith passed away on January 2, 1982. He was still a Member of Parliament when he died. He had been an MP for 33 years, which made him Scotland's longest-serving MP at that time.
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said she was "deeply saddened" by his death. The Glasgow Herald newspaper described him as "the quiet man of Scottish politics."
His death led to another important by-election in Glasgow Hillhead. This election had a big impact on British politics. Roy Jenkins, a well-known politician from a new party called the Social Democratic Party, won the election. This win helped him become a leader in British politics.
Family Life
Thomas Galbraith married Simone Clotilde Fernande Marie Ghislaine Blicquy on April 11, 1956. They had three children together:
- Ghislaine du Roy Galbraith (born 1957)
- Thomas Galloway Dunlop du Roy de Blicquy Galbraith (born 1960)
- Charles William Du Roy De Blicquy Galbraith (born 1962)
Thomas Galbraith passed away before his father did. His oldest son, Thomas, later became the 2nd Baron Strathclyde. He also became a politician, serving as a minister and a leader in the House of Lords.
