George Nugent, Baron Nugent of Guildford
Encyclopedia
George Richard Hodges Nugent, Baron Nugent of Guildford PC
, JP
(6 June 1907 – 16 March 1994), known as Sir George Nugent, 1st Baronet between 1960 and 1966, was a British
Conservative
politician.
George Roubiliac Hodges Nugent and his wife Violet Stella, daughter of Henry Theopphilus Sheppard. He was educated at the Imperial Service College
and went then to the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich.
, leaving it after three years. He joined the County Council for Surrey
in 1944 and became an alderman in 1951, representing the county later as a Justice of the Peace
. Nugent entered the British House of Commons
in 1950, sitting as a Member of Parliament
(MP) for Guildford
until 1966. He became Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in 1951, an office he held until 1957. Subsequently he served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport
until October 1959. Nugent was created a Baronet, of Dunsfold
in the County of Surrey
on 27 January 1960 and was sworn of the Privy Council
in 1962. He received a life peer
age with the title Baron Nugent of Guildford, of Dunsfold, in the County of Surrey on 31 May 1966.
In 1944, Nugent became a member of the National Farmers Union's executive council and in 1948 a vice-chairman of the National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs
, occupying both posts until 1951. He chaired the Thames Conservancy Board for fourteen years from 1960 and was nominated a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
in 1962. Two years later, he became chairman of the Animal Virus Research Institute until 1977. Nugent became the first chairman of the National Water Council in 1973, resigning after five years. He was president of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
(RoSPA) and in 1981 he succeeded in introducing seat belt legislation
through an amendment to the Transport Bill.
in December 1968. Nugent died at Dunsfold
in 1994.
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...
, JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(6 June 1907 – 16 March 1994), known as Sir George Nugent, 1st Baronet between 1960 and 1966, was a British
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...
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.
Background
Nugent was the son of ColonelColonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
George Roubiliac Hodges Nugent and his wife Violet Stella, daughter of Henry Theopphilus Sheppard. He was educated at the Imperial Service College
Imperial Service College
The Imperial Service College ' was a leading English public school based in Windsor.In 1942, it merged with Haileybury to form Haileybury and Imperial Service College...
and went then to the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich.
Career
In 1926, Nugent was commissioned into the British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, leaving it after three years. He joined the County Council for Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
in 1944 and became an alderman in 1951, representing the county later as a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
. Nugent entered the British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
in 1950, sitting as a 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 Guildford
Guildford (UK Parliament constituency)
Guildford is a county constituency in Surrey which returns 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....
until 1966. He became Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in 1951, an office he held until 1957. Subsequently he served 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...
until October 1959. Nugent was created a Baronet, of Dunsfold
Dunsfold
Dunsfold is a village in the Waverley district of the county of Surrey, England, 8.7 miles south of Guildford. The census area Chiddingfold and Dunsfold has a population of 3,812.-History:...
in the County of Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
on 27 January 1960 and was sworn of the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
in 1962. He received 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...
age with the title Baron Nugent of Guildford, of Dunsfold, in the County of Surrey on 31 May 1966.
In 1944, Nugent became a member of the National Farmers Union's executive council and in 1948 a vice-chairman of the National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs
National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs
The National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs is the largest rural youth organisation of its kind, in the United Kingdom. The Federation covers various Young Farmers' Clubs throughout England and Wales, helping support young people in agriculture and the countryside...
, occupying both posts until 1951. He chaired the Thames Conservancy Board for fourteen years from 1960 and was nominated a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
in 1962. Two years later, he became chairman of the Animal Virus Research Institute until 1977. Nugent became the first chairman of the National Water Council in 1973, resigning after five years. He was president of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is a British charity which aims to promote safety. It is particularly known for its vocal campaigns on issues of road safety, including Tufty the road crossing squirrel, the Cycling Proficiency Test and the Green Cross Code, as well as on issues of...
(RoSPA) and in 1981 he succeeded in introducing seat belt legislation
Seat belt legislation
Seat belt legislation requires the fitting of seat belts to motor vehicles and/or the wearing of seat belts by motor vehicle occupants. The U.S. state of Wisconsin introduced legislation in 1961 requiring front seat belt anchorages to be fitted to cars. The Australian state of Victoria mandated...
through an amendment to the Transport Bill.
Family
On 29 July 1937, Nugent married Ruth Stafford, daughter of Hugh Granville Stafford. He and his wife were both awarded honorary doctorates by the University of SurreyUniversity of Surrey
The University of Surrey is a university located within the county town of Guildford, Surrey in the South East of England. It received its charter on 9 September 1966, and was previously situated near Battersea Park in south-west London. The institution was known as Battersea College of Technology...
in December 1968. Nugent died at Dunsfold
Dunsfold
Dunsfold is a village in the Waverley district of the county of Surrey, England, 8.7 miles south of Guildford. The census area Chiddingfold and Dunsfold has a population of 3,812.-History:...
in 1994.