George Lucas, 1st Baron Lucas of Chilworth
Encyclopedia
George William Lucas, 1st Baron Lucas of Chilworth (29 March 1896 – 11 October 1967), was a British
businessman and Labour
politician.
Lucas was the son of Percy William Lucas of Oxford
. He was involved in the motor trade industry and served during the Second World War as Chairman of the National Joint Industrial Council of the Motor Vehicle Retail and Repairing Trade. In 1946 he was given a peerage by the Labour government
of Clement Attlee
as Baron Lucas of Chilworth, of Chilworth in the County of Southampton. He then served under Attlee as a Lord-in-Waiting
(government whip in the House of Lords) from 1948 to 1949, as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
(Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords) from 1949 to 1950 and as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport
from 1950 to 1951. However, he later fell out with the Labour Party over nationalisation and moved to the cross-benches.
The future Lord Lucas married Sonia Finkelstein (died 1979), the daughter of Marcus Finkelstein, a Latvian fishing-industry tycoon, in 1917. He died in October 1967, aged 71, and was succeeded in the barony by his eldest son Michael, who became a Conservative
government minister. His second son, Ivor Lucas, became a diplomat and served as British Ambassador to Syria
and Oman
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
businessman and Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politician.
Lucas was the son of Percy William Lucas of Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
. He was involved in the motor trade industry and served during the Second World War as Chairman of the National Joint Industrial Council of the Motor Vehicle Retail and Repairing Trade. In 1946 he was given a peerage by the Labour government
Labour Government 1945-1951
The Labour Party came to power in the United Kingdom after their unexpected victory in the July 1945 general elections. Party leader Clement Attlee became Prime Minister and hastily replaced his predecessor Winston Churchill at the Potsdam Conference in late July. Ernest Bevin was Foreign Secretary...
of Clement Attlee
Clement Attlee
Clement Richard Attlee, 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC, FRS was a British Labour politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951, and as the Leader of the Labour Party from 1935 to 1955...
as Baron Lucas of Chilworth, of Chilworth in the County of Southampton. He then served under Attlee as a Lord-in-Waiting
Lord-in-Waiting
Most Lords in Waiting are Government whips in the House of Lords who are members of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. As members of the Royal Household their duties are nominal, though they are occasionally required to meet visiting political and state leaders on visits...
(government whip in the House of Lords) from 1948 to 1949, as Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
The Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard is a UK government post usually held by the Government Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords...
(Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords) from 1949 to 1950 and as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport was a junior position at the British Ministry of Transport. The office was renamed Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport in 1941, but resumed its former name at the end of the Second World War.-Parliamentary Secretaries to the...
from 1950 to 1951. However, he later fell out with the Labour Party over nationalisation and moved to the cross-benches.
The future Lord Lucas married Sonia Finkelstein (died 1979), the daughter of Marcus Finkelstein, a Latvian fishing-industry tycoon, in 1917. He died in October 1967, aged 71, and was succeeded in the barony by his eldest son Michael, who became a 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...
government minister. His second son, Ivor Lucas, became a diplomat and served as British Ambassador to Syria
British ambassador to Syria
The Ambassador from the United Kingdom to Syria is the United Kingdom's foremost diplomatic representative in Syria, and in charge of the UK's diplomatic mission in Syria...
and Oman
Oman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
.