George Masterman Gillett
Encyclopedia
Sir George Masterman Gillett (1870, – 10 August 1939) was a British
banker and politician.
Born in Islington
, he was the son of George Gillett, a banker and member of a well-known Quaker family. He was educated at a Society of Friends boarding school in Scarborough, Yorkshire
and in Paris. In 1894 he became a partner the family business of Gillett Brothers, discount bankers of Lombard Street in the City of London
.
Gillett was very active in charitable and social work in London, and in 1898 founded the Peel Institute, to "advance the mental, physical, religious, moral and social education of persons and the promotion of facilities for the recreation or other leisure time occupation of those who by reason of age, youth, infirmity, disablement, poverty or social and economic circumstances are in need of such facilities, with the object of improving their conditions of life".
When the Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury
was created in 1900, Gillett was elected to the first borough council, serving for six years. He was subsequently elected to the London County Council
in 1910, representing East Finsbury
as a member of the majority Progressive Party
until 1922, and as an alderman
from 1922 to 1925.
At the 1922 general election
Gillett was nominated as the Labour Party's candidate to contest the Finsbury
constituency. Although unsuccessful on this occasion, in the following year another general election
was held and he became Finsbury's member of parliament. He held the seat at the 1924
1929 general elections
. With the formation of the Second Labour Government in 1929 he received the post of Secretary to the Overseas Department of the Board of Trade
.
When a National Government
was formed in 1931, Gillett was one of the minority of Labour MPs who continued to support the premiership of Ramsay MacDonald
, forming what became the National Labour Organisation. He held the seat for the National Government in the election of 1931
, and was apppointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport. In November 1931 he was knighted
. He was defeated by his Labour Party opponent, the Reverend George Saville Woods at the 1935 general election
.
In 1936 he was appointed as Commissioner for the Special Areas in England and Wales
. The "special areas" were localities of very high unemployment, and the commissioners were empowered to make grants to local authorities for works such as water supply and sewage works, hospitals and social amenities. Gillett retired from the post in May 1939 due to ill health. He died in August of the same year at his home in Letchworth
, Hertfordshire
.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
banker and politician.
Born in Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
, he was the son of George Gillett, a banker and member of a well-known Quaker family. He was educated at a Society of Friends boarding school in Scarborough, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
and in Paris. In 1894 he became a partner the family business of Gillett Brothers, discount bankers of Lombard Street in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
.
Gillett was very active in charitable and social work in London, and in 1898 founded the Peel Institute, to "advance the mental, physical, religious, moral and social education of persons and the promotion of facilities for the recreation or other leisure time occupation of those who by reason of age, youth, infirmity, disablement, poverty or social and economic circumstances are in need of such facilities, with the object of improving their conditions of life".
When the Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury
Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury
The Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury was a Metropolitan borough within the County of London from 1900 to 1965, when it was amalgamated with the Metropolitan Borough of Islington to form the London Borough of Islington.- Boundaries :...
was created in 1900, Gillett was elected to the first borough council, serving for six years. He was subsequently elected to the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
in 1910, representing East Finsbury
Finsbury East (UK Parliament constituency)
Finsbury East was a parliamentary constituency centred on the Finsbury district of North London. 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 system.- History :...
as a member of the majority Progressive Party
Progressive Party (London)
The Progressive Party was a political party based around the Liberal Party that contested municipal elections in the County of London.It was founded in 1888 by a group of Liberals and leaders of the labour movement. It was also supported by the Fabian Society, and Sidney Webb was one of its...
until 1922, and as an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
from 1922 to 1925.
At the 1922 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1922
The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John...
Gillett was nominated as the Labour Party's candidate to contest the Finsbury
Finsbury (UK Parliament constituency)
The parliamentary borough of Finsbury was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 to 1885, and from 1918 to 1950. The constituency created in 1832 included part of the county of Middlesex north of the City of London and was named after the Finsbury...
constituency. Although unsuccessful on this occasion, in the following year another general election
United Kingdom general election, 1923
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
was held and he became Finsbury's member of parliament. He held the seat at the 1924
United Kingdom general election, 1924
- Seats summary :- References :* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* - External links :* * *...
1929 general elections
United Kingdom general election, 1929
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
. With the formation of the Second Labour Government in 1929 he received the post of Secretary to the Overseas Department of the Board of Trade
Board of Trade
The Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, originating as a committee of inquiry in the 17th century and evolving gradually into a government department with a diverse range of functions...
.
When a National Government
First National Ministry
See also First National Government 1931The First National Ministry was a coalition government formed in the United Kingdom, following the collapse of the Second MacDonald Labour Ministry in 1931.-Formation:...
was formed in 1931, Gillett was one of the minority of Labour MPs who continued to support the premiership of Ramsay MacDonald
Ramsay MacDonald
James Ramsay MacDonald, PC, FRS was a British politician who was the first ever Labour Prime Minister, leading a minority government for two terms....
, forming what became the National Labour Organisation. He held the seat for the National Government in the election of 1931
United Kingdom general election, 1931
The United Kingdom general election on Tuesday 27 October 1931 was the last in the United Kingdom not held on a Thursday. It was also the last election, and the only one under universal suffrage, where one party received an absolute majority of the votes cast.The 1931 general election was the...
, and was apppointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport. In November 1931 he was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
. He was defeated by his Labour Party opponent, the Reverend George Saville Woods at the 1935 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1935
The United Kingdom general election held on 14 November 1935 resulted in a large, though reduced, majority for the National Government now led by Conservative Stanley Baldwin. The greatest number of MPs, as before, were Conservative, while the National Liberal vote held steady...
.
In 1936 he was appointed as Commissioner for the Special Areas in England and Wales
Special Areas Act 1934
The Special Areas Act was an Act of Parliament which gave aid to the areas of Britain which had the highest unemployment rates in the 1930s. Areas which benefited included South Wales, Tyneside, Cumberland and southern Scotland; but not Lancashire. There were two unpaid commissioners given...
. The "special areas" were localities of very high unemployment, and the commissioners were empowered to make grants to local authorities for works such as water supply and sewage works, hospitals and social amenities. Gillett retired from the post in May 1939 due to ill health. He died in August of the same year at his home in Letchworth
Letchworth
Letchworth Garden City, commonly known as Letchworth, is a town and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England. The town's name is taken from one of the three villages it surrounded - all of which featured in the Domesday Book. The land used was first purchased by Quakers who had intended to farm the...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
.