Henry Hamilton Beamish
Encyclopedia
Henry Hamilton Beamish was a leading British
antisemite and the founder of The Britons.
The son of an admiral who had served as an A.D.C.
to Queen Victoria
, Beamish served in the Second Boer War
and settled in South Africa
afterwards.
Returning to London
in 1918 he set up the Britons as a specifically antisemitic propaganda
organisation and also became involved with the Silver Badge Party
. He ran as an independent in a by-election in Clapham
, on an anti-immigrant platform, supported by the right-wing MP Noel Pemberton Billing
, but lost despite attracting 43% of the votes. Along with Lieutenant-Commander E.M. Frazer, Beamish produced a poster in 1919 denouncing Commissioner of Works Sir Alfred Mond
(Alfred Mond, 1st Baron Melchett
) as a traitor resulting in a libel suit. Mond was successful and was awarded £5000, although Beamish left Britain without paying.
Following his departure from Britain, Beamish travelled the world preaching antisemitism. He was one of the earliest developers of the Madagascar Plan
for Jewish deportation and spoke in Germany
where he claimed, rather dubiously, to have taught Adolf Hitler
. In the early 1920s Beamish announced that "Bolshevism was Judaism
." He would also serve as Vice-President of the Imperial Fascist League
for a time and was a member of the Nordic League
.
Eventually he settled in Southern Rhodesia
, where he served as an independent MP and was interned in 1940 for his pro-Nazi sentiments. He remained President of the Britons until his death in Southern Rhodesia in 1948.
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...
antisemite and the founder of The Britons.
The son of an admiral who had served as an A.D.C.
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
, Beamish served in the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
and settled in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
afterwards.
Returning to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1918 he set up the Britons as a specifically antisemitic propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
organisation and also became involved with the Silver Badge Party
Silver Badge Party
The Silver Badge Party was the unofficial title for a political movement existing in the United Kingdom during and immediately after World War I. The unofficial party consisted of several groups representing the political interests of former service personnel who had fought in the war...
. He ran as an independent in a by-election in Clapham
Clapham by-election, 1918
The Clapham by-election, 1918 was a by-election held on 21 June 1918 for the British House of Commons constituency of Clapham in South London.The by-election was triggered by the elevation to the peerage of the serving Conservative Party Member of Parliament , George Faber.The Unionist candidate...
, on an anti-immigrant platform, supported by the right-wing MP Noel Pemberton Billing
Noel Pemberton Billing
Noel Pemberton Billing was an English aviator, inventor, publisher, and Member of Parliament. He founded the firm that became Supermarine and promoted air power, but he held a strong antipathy towards the Royal Aircraft Factory and its products...
, but lost despite attracting 43% of the votes. Along with Lieutenant-Commander E.M. Frazer, Beamish produced a poster in 1919 denouncing Commissioner of Works Sir Alfred Mond
Alfred Mond, 1st Baron Melchett
Alfred Moritz Mond, 1st Baron Melchett PC, FRS , known as Sir Alfred Mond, Bt, between 1910 and 1928, was a British industrialist, financier and politician...
(Alfred Mond, 1st Baron Melchett
Alfred Mond, 1st Baron Melchett
Alfred Moritz Mond, 1st Baron Melchett PC, FRS , known as Sir Alfred Mond, Bt, between 1910 and 1928, was a British industrialist, financier and politician...
) as a traitor resulting in a libel suit. Mond was successful and was awarded £5000, although Beamish left Britain without paying.
Following his departure from Britain, Beamish travelled the world preaching antisemitism. He was one of the earliest developers of the Madagascar Plan
Madagascar Plan
The Madagascar Plan was a suggested policy of the Nazi government of Germany to relocate the Jewish population of Europe to the island of Madagascar.-Origins:The evacuation of European Jews to the island of Madagascar was not a new concept...
for Jewish deportation and spoke in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
where he claimed, rather dubiously, to have taught Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
. In the early 1920s Beamish announced that "Bolshevism was Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
." He would also serve as Vice-President of the Imperial Fascist League
Imperial Fascist League
The Imperial Fascist League was a British fascist political movement founded by Arnold Leese in 1929.-Origins:Leese had originally been a member of the British Fascists and indeed had been one of only two members ever to hold elected office for them...
for a time and was a member of the Nordic League
Nordic League
The Nordic League was a far right organisation in the United Kingdom from 1935 to 1939 that sought to serve as a co-ordinating body for the various extremist movements whilst also seeking to promote Nazism...
.
Eventually he settled in Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia...
, where he served as an independent MP and was interned in 1940 for his pro-Nazi sentiments. He remained President of the Britons until his death in Southern Rhodesia in 1948.