William Whitelaw (Perth MP) facts for kids
William Whitelaw (born March 15, 1868 – died January 19, 1946) was an important figure in Scotland. He was a Conservative politician and spent many years as a leader in the railway industry.
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Who Was William Whitelaw?
William Whitelaw came from a well-known family in Scotland. They were part of the "landed gentry," which means they owned a lot of land. He was educated at Harrow School, a famous school in England. After that, he went to Trinity College, Cambridge, one of the top universities.
A Career in Politics
William Whitelaw decided to enter politics. In 1892, he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the area of Perth. An MP is someone elected by people to represent them in the country's government.
However, he lost his seat in the next election in 1895. He tried again in 1900 but was not elected that time either. Even though his time as an MP was short, he continued to be involved in public life, especially with railways.
Leading the Railways
William Whitelaw became very important in the railway world. He helped manage and lead several major railway companies in Britain.
Highland Railway
In 1898, Whitelaw joined the board of directors for the Highland Railway. Directors help make big decisions for a company. He became the Chairman of the Highland Railway in 1902 and held that role until 1912. He was also Chairman again in 1916.
North British Railway
Later, in 1912, he became the Chairman of the North British Railway (NBR). This was another large railway company in Scotland.
London and North Eastern Railway (LNER)
A big change happened in 1923 when many railway companies joined together. The North British Railway became part of a new, much larger company called the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). William Whitelaw was chosen to be the very first Chairman of the LNER. Everyone agreed he was the right person for the job. He led this huge railway company until he stepped down in September 1938.
Family Life
William Whitelaw was married to Gertrude Thompson. They had a son named William Alexander Whitelaw. Sadly, their son was killed during the First World War. William and Gertrude were the grandparents of another famous politician, William Whitelaw, 1st Viscount Whitelaw.
