Frances Davidson, Viscountess Davidson
Encyclopedia
Frances Joan Davidson, Viscountess Davidson DBE
(29 May 1894 – 25 November 1985), styled Lady Davidson between 1935 and 1937 and as Viscountess Davidson between 1937 and 1985, was a British Conservative Party
politician.
, later Baron Dickinson
. Her father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all Members of Parliament. She was educated at Kensington High School and Northfields, Englefield Green.
, she served in the Red Cross POW Department and was appointed OBE
in 1919. When her husband, Sir J. C. C. Davidson
, was created Viscount Davidson
in 1937, she was elected at a by-election to succeed him as Conservative Member of Parliament
(MP) for Hemel Hempstead
. She held the seat until she retired from the House of Commons at the 1959 general election
. For a short time after the 1945 general election
, she was the only female Conservative MP.
in 1952 and created a life peer
as Baroness Northchurch, of Chiswick in the County of Middlesex, in 1963. She and her husband were one of the few couples who both held titles in their own right.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(29 May 1894 – 25 November 1985), styled Lady Davidson between 1935 and 1937 and as Viscountess Davidson between 1937 and 1985, was a British Conservative Party
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.
Background and education
Born as Frances Joan Dickinson she was the daughter of Sir Willoughby DickinsonWilloughby Dickinson, 1st Baron Dickinson
Willoughby Hyett Dickinson, 1st Baron Dickinson KBE, PC , was a British Liberal Party politician.Dickinson was the son of Sebastian Stewart Dickinson, Member of Parliament for Stroud. He was educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge. He was Member of Parliament for St...
, later Baron Dickinson
Baron Dickinson
Baron Dickinson, of Painswick in the County of Gloucester, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1930 for the Liberal politician Willoughby Dickinson, who had previously represented St Pancras North in the House of Commons. He was the son of Sebastian Dickinson, Member...
. Her father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all Members of Parliament. She was educated at Kensington High School and Northfields, Englefield Green.
Career
During World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, she served in the Red Cross POW Department and was appointed OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1919. When her husband, Sir J. C. C. Davidson
J. C. C. Davidson, 1st Viscount Davidson
John Colin Campbell Davidson, 1st Viscount Davidson GCVO CH, CB, PC , known before his elevation to the peerage as J. C. C. Davidson, was a British civil servant and Conservative Party politician, best known for his close alliance with Stanley Baldwin...
, was created Viscount Davidson
Viscount Davidson
Viscount Davidson, of Little Gaddesden in the County of Hertford, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1937 for the Conservative politician and former Member of Parliament for Hemel Hempstead, Sir J. C. C. Davidson. the title is held by his eldest son, the second...
in 1937, she was elected at a by-election to succeed him as Conservative Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Hemel Hempstead
Hemel Hempstead (UK Parliament constituency)
Hemel Hempstead is a 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.- Boundaries :...
. She held the seat until she retired from the House of Commons at the 1959 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1959
This United Kingdom general election was held on 8 October 1959. It marked a third successive victory for the ruling Conservative Party, led by Harold Macmillan...
. For a short time after the 1945 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
, she was the only female Conservative MP.
Honours
She was appointed a DBEOrder of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1952 and created a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baroness Northchurch, of Chiswick in the County of Middlesex, in 1963. She and her husband were one of the few couples who both held titles in their own right.