Walter Elliot (Scottish politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walter Elliot
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Eliot in 1923
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| Minister of Health | |
| In office 16 May 1938 – 13 May 1940 |
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| Prime Minister | Neville Chamberlain Winston Churchill |
| Preceded by | Sir Kingsley Wood |
| Succeeded by | Malcolm MacDonald |
| Secretary of State for Scotland | |
| In office 29 October 1936 – 6 May 1938 |
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| Prime Minister | Stanley Baldwin Neville Chamberlain |
| Preceded by | Sir Godfrey Collins |
| Succeeded by | John Colville |
| Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food | |
| In office 28 September 1932 – 29 October 1936 |
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| Prime Minister | Ramsay MacDonald Stanley Baldwin |
| Preceded by | Sir John Gilmour |
| Succeeded by | William Morrison |
| Financial Secretary to the Treasury | |
| In office 24 August 1931 – 29 September 1932 |
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| Prime Minister | Ramsay MacDonald |
| Preceded by | Frederick Pethick-Lawrence |
| Succeeded by | Leslie Hore-Belisha |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland | |
| In office 26 July 1926 – 7 June 1929 |
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| Prime Minister | Stanley Baldwin |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Tim Johnston |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health for Scotland | |
| In office 11 November 1924 – 26 July 1926 |
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| Prime Minister | Stanley Baldwin |
| Preceded by | James Stewart |
| Succeeded by | Office renamed |
| In office 15 January 1923 – 23 January 1924 |
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| Prime Minister | Stanley Baldwin |
| Preceded by | James Kidd |
| Succeeded by | James Stewart |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 September 1888 Lanark, Lanarkshire, Scotland |
| Died | 8 January 1958 (aged 69) Bonchester Bridge, Roxburghshire, Scotland |
| Political party | Unionist |
| Other political affiliations |
Conservative |
| Spouses |
Helen Hamilton
(m. 1919; died 1919)Katharine Tennant
(m. 1934) |
| Alma mater | University of Glasgow MB ChB 1913 DSc 1923 |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1914–1941 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | Royal Army Medical Corps Royal Scots Greys |
| Battles/wars |
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| Awards | Military Cross and bar |
Walter Elliot (19 September 1888 – 8 January 1958) was an important Scottish politician. He was a member of the Unionist Party in the United Kingdom. He served in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom for many years, starting in 1918.
Walter Elliot held several important jobs in the government. He was the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Secretary of State for Scotland, and the Minister of Health. He was known for his work during the time between the two World Wars.
Before becoming a politician, he studied medicine and served as a doctor in the First World War. He was very brave and won a special award called the Military Cross twice. Throughout his career, he represented different areas in Scotland as a Member of Parliament (MP). He also held important roles at universities, like Rector of the University of Aberdeen and the University of Glasgow.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Walter Elliot was born in Lanark, Scotland, in 1888. He was the oldest son of William Elliot, who worked in livestock auctions. His mother passed away when his youngest sibling was born. After this, his mother's relatives in Glasgow raised him and his siblings.
He grew up in Glasgow and went to school in Lanark and at The Glasgow Academy. One of his close friends from school was the playwright Osborne Henry Mavor.
In 1905, Walter began studying science and medicine at the University of Glasgow. He was very active at the university. He became the President of the Glasgow University Union from 1911 to 1912. He also wrote for the Glasgow University Magazine. In 1913, he finished his medical studies and became a doctor.
First World War Service
When the First World War began, Walter Elliot joined the Royal Army Medical Corps in December 1914. He worked as a medical officer with the Royal Scots Greys on the Western Front. This was the main battle area in France and Belgium.
He showed great courage during the war. He earned the Military Cross for his actions in April 1917 during the Battle of Arras. He won a second Military Cross in November 1917 during the Battle of Cambrai. This meant he had a "bar" added to his original medal.
Walter was wounded in his leg during the last month of the war but returned home safely. Sadly, his younger brother, Dan Elliot, was killed in 1915 during the Gallipoli campaign. After the war, Walter decided to go into politics instead of joining his family's business.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
After recovering from his war injury, Walter Elliot was asked to become a politician. He was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Lanark in the 1918 general election. An MP is someone elected by people to represent them in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, which is part of the UK Parliament.
Early in his political career, he worked as a special assistant to the Under-Secretary for Health for Scotland. He also continued his scientific research when Parliament was not in session. He even earned a Doctor of Science degree in 1923 for his research on animal nutrition.
He lost his seat in the 1923 election but quickly regained a place in the House of Commons in 1924. He then represented the Glasgow Kelvingrove area until 1945.
Junior Minister Roles
In January 1923, Walter Elliot became a Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health for Scotland. This is a junior minister role, meaning he helped the main minister with their duties. He briefly lost this job in 1924 but got it back later that year.
From 1926 to 1929, he served as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland. During this time, he helped pass important laws about local government. He also visited Colonial Nigeria in 1927.
Walter Elliot was very interested in public health and nutrition. He worked with his friend John Boyd Orr on a project that proved how helpful it was to give free milk to children in schools. This led to a law that provided free milk to all schools in Scotland. He also supported making documentary films to educate people.
In 1931, he became the Financial Secretary to the Treasury. This job involved helping manage the country's money. In 1932, he was made a Privy Counsellor, which is a special honor for senior politicians.
Cabinet Minister Roles
Walter Elliot became a full Cabinet Minister in 1932. This meant he was in charge of a major government department. He was first appointed Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. In this role, he helped farmers by creating laws to protect them from losing money when food prices dropped.
He then became the Secretary of State for Scotland in 1936. This is the main minister responsible for Scotland. After that, he served as the Minister of Health from 1938 to 1940. As Minister of Health, he helped pass the Cancer Act 1939. This law aimed to improve cancer treatment and stop misleading advertisements about cancer cures.
In 1938, he almost resigned from the government over the Munich Agreement, a deal with Nazi Germany. This decision affected his political standing. When Winston Churchill became Prime Minister in 1940, Walter Elliot was no longer part of the government.
Second World War Contributions
Even though he was no longer a Cabinet Minister, Walter Elliot played important roles during the Second World War. In October 1940, he was offered the job of Governor of British Burma, but he turned it down.
In January 1941, he became the director of public relations at the War Office. This meant he was in charge of how the army communicated with the public.
One famous story about Walter Elliot happened in May 1941 during the London Blitz. During a heavy air raid, the Palace of Westminster (where Parliament meets) was badly damaged by fire. Walter Elliot was nearby and helped direct the London Fire Brigade. He told them to focus on saving the ancient Westminster Hall, which had a unique medieval roof, instead of the newer parts of the building. Thanks to his quick thinking, Westminster Hall was saved.
He also worked with Kenneth Clark to commission war artists to create art about the war. He left his job at the War Office at the end of 1941 and was promoted to Colonel in the British Army.
Later Political Life
After the war, Walter Elliot continued his political career. He lost his Glasgow Kelvingrove seat in the 1945 general election by a very small number of votes. However, he was elected again in 1946 for the Combined Scottish Universities seat. When these university seats were removed, he returned to represent Glasgow Kelvingrove in 1950.
Between 1947 and 1950, he was the elected Rector of the University of Glasgow. He also traveled to the newly formed State of Israel in 1949 to report for The Daily Telegraph. He was a strong supporter of Israel.
In 1954, Walter Elliot led a parliamentary group that investigated the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya Colony. He also led the Elliot Commission on Higher Education in West Africa. This commission's report helped create the first university colleges in West African countries like Nigeria and Ghana.
In 1955, he helped create the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, which brings together politicians from NATO countries. He was also its treasurer and often traveled to North America for NATO business.
Walter Elliot was recognized for his achievements. He was a member of the Royal Society and the Royal Society of Edinburgh, which are groups for important scientists. He also received honorary degrees from many universities. In 1952, he was made a Companion of Honour, a special award for outstanding service to the country. He also appeared on BBC television and radio programs, sharing his knowledge and opinions.
Family Life
Walter Elliot married Helen Hamilton in 1919. Sadly, she died just a few weeks later in a mountaineering accident during their honeymoon on the Isle of Skye.
He married again in 1934 to Katharine Tennant. She was also a well-known public figure.
Death and Legacy
Walter Elliot passed away on 8 January 1958, at his family home in Bonchester Bridge, Scotland. He was buried three days later.
After his death, his wife, Katharine, tried to win his former seat in Glasgow Kelvingrove but was not successful. She later became one of the first women to be made a life peer in the House of Lords, which is the upper house of the UK Parliament. She was the first woman to speak in the modern House of Lords.
Recognition
The Elliot Library at the Glasgow University Union is named in his honor.
Images for kids
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Walter Elliot helped save the Palace of Westminster's great hall during the Blitz.
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Westminster Hall (built 1097) is the largest remnant of the medieval palace; its roof greater span than any timber roof in England, built by Hugh Herland (begun 1393).
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Memorial bench dedicated to Walter Elliot in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, "presented by fellow officers of the Royal Scots Greys"
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