George Tryon, 1st Baron Tryon
Encyclopedia
Major George Clement Tryon, 1st Baron Tryon, PC
(15 May 1871 – 24 November 1940, Little Court, Sunningdale
) was a British Conservative
politician who served in a number of ministerial positions in the inter-war years.
George Clement Tryon was son of Vice-Admiral Sir George Tryon
and Clementina Heathcote, daughter of Gilbert Heathcote, 1st Baron Aveland
. Educated at Eton College
and Sandhurst
, Tryon joined the Grenadier Guards
in 1890, serving for sixteen years before retiring as Major.
Tryon was elected as Member of Parliament
(MP) for Brighton
in 1910, serving until 1940. He became Under-Secretary of Air in 1919 and Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions in 1920 and in 1922 became a Privy Counsellor
. He served as Minister of Pensions himself 1922-24, 1924–29 and 1931–35 and was then appointed Postmaster General
in 1935, serving until 1940.
In April 1940, Tryon was elevated to the peerage
as 1st Baron Tryon
and made Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
and First Commissioner of Works
. However, he was replaced as Chancellor (by Lord Hankey) when Winston Churchill
became Prime Minister
in May, while retaining the First Commissionership; he relinquished that post the following October, a few weeks before his death.
He married Averil Vivian, daughter of Colonel Sir Henry Hussey Vivian, 1st Baron Swansea. They had two children, including Charles, 2nd Baron Tryon.
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...
(15 May 1871 – 24 November 1940, Little Court, Sunningdale
Sunningdale
Sunningdale is a large village and civil parish in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England.-Location:Sunningdale is located close to the present border with Surrey, and is not far from Ascot, Sunninghill and Virginia Water. It is situated 24 miles west of London and 7...
) 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 who served in a number of ministerial positions in the inter-war years.
George Clement Tryon was son of Vice-Admiral Sir George Tryon
George Tryon
Vice-Admiral Sir George Tryon, KCB was a British admiral who died when his flagship HMS Victoria collided with HMS Camperdown during manoeuvres off Tripoli, Lebanon.-Early life:...
and Clementina Heathcote, daughter of Gilbert Heathcote, 1st Baron Aveland
Gilbert Heathcote, 1st Baron Aveland
Gilbert John Heathcote, 1st Baron Aveland , known as Sir Gilbert John Heathcote, 5th Baronet, from 1851 to 1856, was a British peer and Whig politician.-Background:...
. Educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
, Tryon joined the Grenadier Guards
Grenadier Guards
The Grenadier Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army. It is the most senior regiment of the Guards Division and, as such, is the most senior regiment of infantry. It is not, however, the most senior regiment of the Army, this position being attributed to the Life Guards...
in 1890, serving for sixteen years before retiring as Major.
Tryon was elected as 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 Brighton
Brighton (UK Parliament constituency)
Brighton was a parliamentary constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 until it was divided into single-member seats from the United Kingdom general election, 1950...
in 1910, serving until 1940. He became Under-Secretary of Air in 1919 and Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions in 1920 and in 1922 became a Privy Counsellor
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...
. He served as Minister of Pensions himself 1922-24, 1924–29 and 1931–35 and was then appointed Postmaster General
United Kingdom Postmaster General
The Postmaster General of the United Kingdom is a defunct Cabinet-level ministerial position in HM Government. Aside from maintaining the postal system, the Telegraph Act of 1868 established the Postmaster General's right to exclusively maintain electric telegraphs...
in 1935, serving until 1940.
In April 1940, Tryon was elevated to the peerage
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
as 1st Baron Tryon
Baron Tryon
Baron Tryon, of Durnford in the County of Wiltshire, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1940 for the Conservative politician George Tryon. He was the son of the naval commander Vice-Admiral Sir George Tryon...
and made Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is, in modern times, a ministerial office in the government of the United Kingdom that includes as part of its duties, the administration of the estates and rents of the Duchy of Lancaster...
and First Commissioner of Works
First Commissioner of Works
The First Commissioner of Works and Public Buildings was a position within the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. It took over some of the functions of the First Commissioner of Woods and Forests in 1851 when the portfolio of Crown holdings was divided into the public...
. However, he was replaced as Chancellor (by Lord Hankey) when Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
became Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
in May, while retaining the First Commissionership; he relinquished that post the following October, a few weeks before his death.
He married Averil Vivian, daughter of Colonel Sir Henry Hussey Vivian, 1st Baron Swansea. They had two children, including Charles, 2nd Baron Tryon.