Arthur Steel-Maitland
Encyclopedia
Sir Arthur Herbert Drummond Ramsay Steel-Maitland, 1st Baronet PC
(5 July 1876 – 30 March 1935) was a British Conservative
politician. He was the first Chairman of the Conservative Party
from 1911 to 1916 and held junior office from 1915 to 1919 in David Lloyd George
's coalition government. From 1924 to 1924 he was Minister of Labour
under Stanley Baldwin
, with a seat in the cabinet.
and at Balliol College, Oxford
, where he was a classical Scholar and Eldon Scholar in 1899. He gained first class honours in classics and law, and became a Fellow of All Souls College in 1900. He was Secretary, Junior Treasurer and President of the Oxford Union Society, and rowed against Cambridge in 1899.
in 1906, and was a Special Commissioner to the Royal Commission
on the Poor Laws from 1906 to 1907. He was elected as Member of Parliament for Birmingham East
in 1910, a seat he held until 1918, and then represented Birmingham Erdington from 1918 to 1929 and Tamworth
from 1929 until 1935. He was the first Chairman of the Conservative Party
from 1911 to 1916.
Steel-Maitland served under David Lloyd George
as Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies
from 1915 to 1917. The latter year he was created a Baronet, of Sauchie in the County of Stirling. He then held office under Lloyd George as Secretary for Overseas Trade
in his capacity as Head of the Department of Overseas Trade (Development and Intelligence) from 1917 to 1919. In 1924 he was sworn of the Privy Council and appointed Minister of Labour
under Stanley Baldwin
, with a seat in the cabinet, a post he retained until the government fell in June 1929.
Steel-Maitland was awarded honorary degrees of LLD by Edinburgh University and St Andrews University.
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
(5 July 1876 – 30 March 1935) was a British Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician. He was the first Chairman of the Conservative Party
Chairman of the Conservative Party
In the United Kingdom, the Chairman of the Conservative Party is responsible for running the party machine, overseeing Conservative Central Office. When the Conservatives are in power, the Chairman is usually a member of the Cabinet being given a sinecure position such as Minister without Portfolio...
from 1911 to 1916 and held junior office from 1915 to 1919 in David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
's coalition government. From 1924 to 1924 he was Minister of Labour
Secretary of State for Employment
The Secretary of State for Employment was a position in the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. In 1995 it was merged with Secretary of State for Education to make the Secretary of State for Education and Employment...
under Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC was a British Conservative politician, who dominated the government in his country between the two world wars...
, with a seat in the cabinet.
Background and education
The second son of Colonel E. H. Steel and Emmeline, daughter of General Henry Drummond, Steel-Maitland was educated at RugbyRugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
and at Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
, where he was a classical Scholar and Eldon Scholar in 1899. He gained first class honours in classics and law, and became a Fellow of All Souls College in 1900. He was Secretary, Junior Treasurer and President of the Oxford Union Society, and rowed against Cambridge in 1899.
Political career
Steel-Maitland unsuccessfully contested RugbyRugby (UK Parliament constituency)
Rugby is a parliamentary constituency in Warwickshire, England. It elects one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom using the first past the post system....
in 1906, and was a Special Commissioner to the Royal Commission
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
on the Poor Laws from 1906 to 1907. He was elected as Member of Parliament for Birmingham East
Birmingham East (UK Parliament constituency)
Birmingham East was a parliamentary constituency in the city of Birmingham, England. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first-past-the-post voting system....
in 1910, a seat he held until 1918, and then represented Birmingham Erdington from 1918 to 1929 and Tamworth
Tamworth (UK Parliament constituency)
Tamworth is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- History :...
from 1929 until 1935. He was the first Chairman of the Conservative Party
Chairman of the Conservative Party
In the United Kingdom, the Chairman of the Conservative Party is responsible for running the party machine, overseeing Conservative Central Office. When the Conservatives are in power, the Chairman is usually a member of the Cabinet being given a sinecure position such as Minister without Portfolio...
from 1911 to 1916.
Steel-Maitland served under David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
as Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies
Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies
The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies was a junior Ministerial post in the United Kingdom government, subordinate to the Secretary of State for the Colonies and, from 1948, also to a Minister of State....
from 1915 to 1917. The latter year he was created a Baronet, of Sauchie in the County of Stirling. He then held office under Lloyd George as Secretary for Overseas Trade
Secretary for Overseas Trade
The Secretary for Overseas Trade was a junior Ministerial position in the United Kingdom government from 1917 until 1953, subordinate to the President of the Board of Trade. The office was replaced by the Minister of State for Trade on 3 September 1953....
in his capacity as Head of the Department of Overseas Trade (Development and Intelligence) from 1917 to 1919. In 1924 he was sworn of the Privy Council and appointed Minister of Labour
Secretary of State for Employment
The Secretary of State for Employment was a position in the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. In 1995 it was merged with Secretary of State for Education to make the Secretary of State for Education and Employment...
under Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin
Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC was a British Conservative politician, who dominated the government in his country between the two world wars...
, with a seat in the cabinet, a post he retained until the government fell in June 1929.
Steel-Maitland was awarded honorary degrees of LLD by Edinburgh University and St Andrews University.