Gervais Rentoul
Encyclopedia
Sir Gervais Squire Chittick Rentoul K.C.,M.A. (August 1, 1884 - March 7, 1946), commonly known as Gervais Rentoul, was a British Conservative
politician.
He was the eldest son of Judge James Alexander Rentoul K.C., LL.D,(1854–1919), M.P. for East Down
1890-1902, and his wife Florence Isabella Young (1860–1914). Gervais Rentoul's father was something of an eccentric and one contemporary newspaper reported of him that "no man, woman or child wished to see him return to East Down." The family claimed to be descended from King Henry VII
.
He was born in Plumstead
and educated at the City of London School
, the Royal University of Ireland
and Christ Church, Oxford
, where he obtained first class honours in Jurisprudence and was President of the Oxford Union Society. While at Oxford he was active in the Oxford University Dramatic Society
(OUDS). Among the stage roles he played was Angelo in Measure for Measure
(1906) and Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew
(1907), a production including the professional actresses Lily Brayton
as Katherine and her sister Agnes as Bianca. After leaving Oxford he acted with the Old Stagers
along with fellow barrister and OUDS alumni C.W.Mercer
, who subsequently acted as his best man.
In 1912 he married Christian Muriel Smart (b.1884); they had one daughter, Sylvia (b.1916) who married Ferenc Gallo.
He became a barrister and took silk in 1930, becoming Recorder
of Sandwich
.
He was elected Conservative Member of Parliament
for Lowestoft
in 1922. He was founding chairman of the 1922 Committee
(1923–1932) and Parliamentary Private Secretary
to the Attorney-General (1925–1929). He was knighted in 1929 and retired from Parliament in 1934.
In 1924 he was Master of the Guild of Freemen of the City of London.
He wrote several books including -
He was portrayed on television by Robin Sachs
in the play The Root of all Evil (1981), a dramatisation of the Seddon murder case in 1912 in which Rentoul had appeared for the defence.
Gervais Rentoul is related to journalist John Rentoul.
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.
He was the eldest son of Judge James Alexander Rentoul K.C., LL.D,(1854–1919), M.P. for East Down
East Down (UK Parliament constituency)
East Down was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland.-Boundaries and Boundary Changes:This county constituency comprised the eastern part of County Down...
1890-1902, and his wife Florence Isabella Young (1860–1914). Gervais Rentoul's father was something of an eccentric and one contemporary newspaper reported of him that "no man, woman or child wished to see him return to East Down." The family claimed to be descended from King Henry VII
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
.
He was born in Plumstead
Plumstead
Plumstead is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. Plumstead is a multi cultural area with large Asian and Afro-Caribbean communities, in similarity to local areas such as Woolwich and Thamesmead...
and educated at the City of London School
City of London School
The City of London School is a boys' independent day school on the banks of the River Thames in the City of London, England. It is the brother school of the City of London School for Girls and the co-educational City of London Freemen's School...
, the Royal University of Ireland
Royal University of Ireland
The Royal University of Ireland was founded in accordance with the University Education Act 1879 as an examining and degree-awarding university based on the model of the University of London. A Royal Charter was issued on April 27, 1880 and examinations were opened to candidates irrespective of...
and Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, where he obtained first class honours in Jurisprudence and was President of the Oxford Union Society. While at Oxford he was active in the Oxford University Dramatic Society
Oxford University Dramatic Society
The Oxford University Dramatic Society is the principal funding body and provider of theatrical services to the many independent student productions put on by students in Oxford, England...
(OUDS). Among the stage roles he played was Angelo in Measure for Measure
Measure for Measure
Measure for Measure is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603 or 1604. It was classified as comedy, but its mood defies those expectations. As a result and for a variety of reasons, some critics have labelled it as one of Shakespeare's problem plays...
(1906) and Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew
The Taming of the Shrew
The Taming of the Shrew is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1591.The play begins with a framing device, often referred to as the Induction, in which a mischievous nobleman tricks a drunken tinker named Sly into believing he is actually a nobleman himself...
(1907), a production including the professional actresses Lily Brayton
Lily Brayton
Elizabeth "Lily" Brayton was an English actress, known for her performances in Shakespeare plays and for her nearly 2,000 performances in the World War I hit musical Chu Chin Chow.-Early years:...
as Katherine and her sister Agnes as Bianca. After leaving Oxford he acted with the Old Stagers
Old Stagers
The Old Stagers is an amateur theatre group, founded in 1842 by Hon. Frederick Ponsonby and Charles Taylor. It claims to be the oldest surviving amateur dramatic company in the world, having staged its first shows in Canterbury in 1842. It has continued to give annual performances every year...
along with fellow barrister and OUDS alumni C.W.Mercer
Dornford Yates
Dornford Yates was the pseudonym of the British novelist, Cecil William Mercer , whose novels and short stories, some humorous , some thrillers , were best-sellers in the 21-year interwar period between the First and Second world wars.The pen name, Dornford Yates, first in print in 1910, resulted...
, who subsequently acted as his best man.
In 1912 he married Christian Muriel Smart (b.1884); they had one daughter, Sylvia (b.1916) who married Ferenc Gallo.
He became a barrister and took silk in 1930, becoming Recorder
Recorder (judge)
A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...
of Sandwich
Sandwich, Kent
Sandwich is a historic town and civil parish on the River Stour in the Non-metropolitan district of Dover, within the ceremonial county of Kent, south-east England. It has a population of 6,800....
.
He was elected 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,...
for Lowestoft
Lowestoft (UK Parliament constituency)
Lowestoft was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Lowestoft in Suffolk. 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 voting system...
in 1922. He was founding chairman of the 1922 Committee
1922 Committee
In British politics, the 1922 Committee is a committee of Conservative Members of Parliament. Voting membership is limited to backbench MPs although frontbench Conservative MPs have an open invitation to attend meetings. While the party was in opposition, frontbench MPs other than the party leader...
(1923–1932) and Parliamentary Private Secretary
Parliamentary Private Secretary
A Parliamentary Private Secretary is a role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament by a senior minister in government or shadow minister to act as their contact for the House of Commons; this role is junior to that of Parliamentary Under-Secretary, which is a ministerial post, salaried by...
to the Attorney-General (1925–1929). He was knighted in 1929 and retired from Parliament in 1934.
In 1924 he was Master of the Guild of Freemen of the City of London.
He wrote several books including -
- Sometimes I Think (Hodder & Stoughton, 1940)
- This is My Case An Autobiography (Hutchinson, 1944)
He was portrayed on television by Robin Sachs
Robin Sachs
Robin David Sachs is an English actor.Sachs was born in London, the son of actors Leonard Sachs and Eleanor Summerfield...
in the play The Root of all Evil (1981), a dramatisation of the Seddon murder case in 1912 in which Rentoul had appeared for the defence.
Gervais Rentoul is related to journalist John Rentoul.