Walter Monckton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Viscount Monckton of Brenchley
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Monckton (left) with Admiral Andrew Cunningham in 1942
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| Minister of Defence | |
| In office 20 December 1955 – 18 October 1956 |
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| Prime Minister | Anthony Eden |
| Preceded by | Selwyn Lloyd |
| Succeeded by | Anthony Head |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Walter Turner Monckton
17 January 1891 Plaxtol, Kent, UK |
| Died | 9 January 1965 (aged 73) |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouses | Polly Colyer-Fergusson |
| Children | Gilbert, Valerie |
Walter Turner Monckton, 1st Viscount Monckton of Brenchley (born January 17, 1891 – died January 9, 1965) was an important British lawyer and politician. He held many key roles in the government and in other organizations throughout his life.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Walter Monckton was born in a small village called Plaxtol in Kent, England. He was the oldest child of Frank William Monckton, who made paper.
He was a very good student. He was the head boy at his first school, The Knoll. Later, he went to Harrow School from 1904 to 1910. He even played cricket for Harrow against Eton, which is a very famous school match.
Walter then went to Balliol College, Oxford, a well-known university. While at Oxford, he played a high-level cricket match for a team made up of players from Oxford and Cambridge Universities. He studied history and was elected president of the Oxford Union in 1913. The Oxford Union is a famous debating society for students.
A Career in Law and Politics
Walter Monckton became a lawyer in 1919. This means he was allowed to argue cases in court. He became a "King's Counsel" (QC) in 1930. This title is given to experienced lawyers who are highly respected.
Helping the King
One of his most famous roles was advising King Edward VIII during a big event called the Abdication Crisis. This was when the King decided to give up his throne in 1936. Walter Monckton helped the King through this difficult time.
He also worked as a legal advisor to the leader of Hyderabad, a large state in India at the time.
World War II and Government Roles
During World War II, Walter Monckton worked in propaganda and information. This meant he helped share important messages with the public.
After the war, in 1945, he became the Solicitor General. This is a senior legal role in the government. He joined the Conservative Party later that year.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
In 1951, Walter Monckton became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Bristol West. An MP is someone elected to represent people in the UK Parliament.
Soon after, he joined the government's cabinet. He was the Minister of Labour and National Service from 1951 to 1955. In this job, he was in charge of things like jobs and workers' rights.
He then became the Minister of Defence from 1955 to 1956. This meant he was responsible for the country's armed forces. He disagreed with the government's actions during the Suez Crisis in 1956. This was a big international event involving Egypt. Because of his disagreement, he was moved to a different role, Paymaster General, which he held until 1957.
Later Life and Leadership
In 1957, Walter Monckton was given the title Viscount Monckton of Brenchley. A Viscount is a noble title, a bit like a lord.
He became the chairman of Midland Bank from 1957 to 1964. He also led several cricket clubs, including the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and Surrey County Cricket Club.
In 1960, he led a group called the Monckton Commission. This group looked at the future of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in Africa. They suggested that these areas should be able to choose if they wanted to stay in the Federation.
Family Life
Walter Monckton was married twice. His first wife was Polly Colyer-Fergusson. They had a son named Gilbert and a daughter named Valerie.
In 1947, he married his second wife, Bridget Monckton, 11th Lady Ruthven of Freeland. She was also a very important person, leading women's army groups in India during the war.
Walter Monckton passed away in 1965 at the age of 73. His son, Gilbert, inherited his title and became the 2nd Viscount Monckton of Brenchley.
Images for kids
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A coronet, a crown worn by a Viscount.
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The coat of arms for the Monckton family.
