Harold Morris (British politician)
Encyclopedia
Sir Harold Spencer Morris MBE
(December 1876 – 11 November 1967) was an English barrister
, judge
and National Liberal
MP.
, the eminent surgeon and dermatologist. He was educated at Clifton College
and Magdalen College, Oxford
. Morris married Olga Teichman of Chislehurst
, Kent
and they had one son and four daughters.
in 1899 and joined the South-East Circuit. Between 1914-1919 he served the Coldstream Guards
, including two and half years service in France was mentioned in dispatches
and awarded the military MBE
. He took silk in 1921 and was the same year appointed Recorder
of Folkestone
, serving until 1926. From 1926-1945 he served as President of the Industrial Court and from 1925 he was Chairman of the National Wages Board for Railways. He was knighted in 1927.
In 1929, Morris was appointed Chairman of the Committee on Unemployment Claims and from 1930-1935 he was Chairman of the Coal Wages Board. In the 1940s he was elected a member of the Royal Institution
. In 1944 he was Chairman of the Court of Inquiry set up by the Minister of Labour and National Service to look into the wages and hours of work obtaining in the woolcombing section of the wool textile industry in Yorkshire. He retired from legal work in 1945, aged 70 but maintained directorships of a number of companies.
Royal Commission, or the Peel Commission
, which was set up to look into the disturbances between the Arab and Jewish populations of the British Mandated Territory of Palestine. The Commission recommended that there should be a Jewish national state in north and west of Palestine and an Arab state in the east and south. However the government rejected the Commission’s proposal to partition Palestine.
, Morris was selected as the Lloyd George
National Liberal candidate for Bristol East
. Bristol East had been a Liberal seat since its creation in 1885 and had been held by Sir Charles Hobhouse. It was fought and won in 1918
by George Bryant Britton as a Coalition Liberal
in opposition to Hobhouse who remained an Independent Asquithian. However Britton did not wish to stand again in 1922 and Morris was chosen to replace him. He faced a straight fight with Labour
and just held the seat with a majority of 151 votes. At the 1923 general election
Morris was again involved in a straight fight against Labour. Despite the surge in support for the re-united Liberal Party at this election nationally, Morris was unable to hold onto his seat, losing to Labour’s Walter John Baker by 2,040 votes. After this election Morris decided to concentrate on his legal career and did not stand for Parliament again.
in Surrey
on 11 November 1967 aged 90.
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
(December 1876 – 11 November 1967) was an English barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
, judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
and National Liberal
National Liberal Party (UK, 1922)
The National Liberal Party was a liberal political party in the United Kingdom from 1922 to 1923. It was led by David Lloyd George and was, at the time, separate to the original Liberal Party.-History:...
MP.
Family and education
Harold Morris was the son of Sir Malcolm Morris, KCVORoyal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, the eminent surgeon and dermatologist. He was educated at Clifton College
Clifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
and Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
. Morris married Olga Teichman of Chislehurst
Chislehurst
Chislehurst is a suburban district in south-east London, England, and an electoral ward of the London Borough of Bromley. It is south-east of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
and they had one son and four daughters.
Career
Morris graduated in law from Oxford. He was called to the Bar by the Inner TempleInner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1899 and joined the South-East Circuit. Between 1914-1919 he served the Coldstream Guards
Coldstream Guards
Her Majesty's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, also known officially as the Coldstream Guards , is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division or Household Division....
, including two and half years service in France was mentioned in dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
and awarded the military MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
. He took silk in 1921 and was the same year appointed Recorder
Recorder
The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes—whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle. The recorder is end-blown and the mouth of the instrument is constricted by a wooden plug, known as a block or fipple...
of Folkestone
Folkestone
Folkestone is the principal town in the Shepway District of Kent, England. Its original site was in a valley in the sea cliffs and it developed through fishing and its closeness to the Continent as a landing place and trading port. The coming of the railways, the building of a ferry port, and its...
, serving until 1926. From 1926-1945 he served as President of the Industrial Court and from 1925 he was Chairman of the National Wages Board for Railways. He was knighted in 1927.
In 1929, Morris was appointed Chairman of the Committee on Unemployment Claims and from 1930-1935 he was Chairman of the Coal Wages Board. In the 1940s he was elected a member of the Royal Institution
Royal Institution
The Royal Institution of Great Britain is an organization devoted to scientific education and research, based in London.-Overview:...
. In 1944 he was Chairman of the Court of Inquiry set up by the Minister of Labour and National Service to look into the wages and hours of work obtaining in the woolcombing section of the wool textile industry in Yorkshire. He retired from legal work in 1945, aged 70 but maintained directorships of a number of companies.
Peel Commission
In 1936, Morris was appointed as a member of the PalestinePalestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
Royal Commission, or the Peel Commission
Peel Commission
The Peel Commission of 1936-1937, formally known as the Palestine Royal Commission, was a British Royal Commission of Inquiry set out to propose changes to the British Mandate of Palestine following the outbreak of the 1936-1939 Arab revolt in Palestine...
, which was set up to look into the disturbances between the Arab and Jewish populations of the British Mandated Territory of Palestine. The Commission recommended that there should be a Jewish national state in north and west of Palestine and an Arab state in the east and south. However the government rejected the Commission’s proposal to partition Palestine.
Politics
At the 1922 general electionUnited 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...
, Morris was selected as the Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
National Liberal candidate for Bristol East
Bristol East (UK Parliament constituency)
Bristol East is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
. Bristol East had been a Liberal seat since its creation in 1885 and had been held by Sir Charles Hobhouse. It was fought and won in 1918
United Kingdom general election, 1918
The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did...
by George Bryant Britton as a Coalition Liberal
Coalition Government 1916-1922
The Coalition Government of David Lloyd George came to power in the United Kingdom in December 1916, replacing the earlier wartime coalition under H.H. Asquith, which had been held responsible for reverses during the Great War. Those Liberals who continued to support Asquith served as the Opposition...
in opposition to Hobhouse who remained an Independent Asquithian. However Britton did not wish to stand again in 1922 and Morris was chosen to replace him. He faced a straight fight with 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...
and just held the seat with a majority of 151 votes. At the 1923 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1923
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
Morris was again involved in a straight fight against Labour. Despite the surge in support for the re-united Liberal Party at this election nationally, Morris was unable to hold onto his seat, losing to Labour’s Walter John Baker by 2,040 votes. After this election Morris decided to concentrate on his legal career and did not stand for Parliament again.
Death
Morris died at his home at 21 Lichfield Road, KewKew
Kew is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in South West London. Kew is best known for being the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens, now a World Heritage Site, which includes Kew Palace...
in 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 11 November 1967 aged 90.
Publications
- The Barrister, Geoffrey Bles, London 1930
- Back View, Reminiscences including a Biography of Sir Malcolm Alexander Morris, Peter Davies, London, 1960