Henry McLaren, 2nd Baron Aberconway
Encyclopedia
Henry Duncan McLaren, 2nd Baron Aberconway CBE (16 April 1879 – 23 May 1953) was a British politician, horticulturalist and industrialist. He was the son of Charles McLaren, 1st Baron Aberconway
and Laura Pochin.
and obtained a Master of Arts
from Balliol College, Oxford. In 1903 he became a barrister
of Lincoln's Inn
.
as a Liberal
, and was Private Under-Secretary
to the President of the Board of Trade, David Lloyd George
, until 1908. In 1910, he stood for his father's old seat of Bosworth
and replaced him. He left politics in 1922, and succeeded his father in the Barony in 1934.
McLaren was also a notable industrialist, and chaired companies from both sides of the family, including John Brown & Company
and the Tredegar Iron and Coal Company
. In 1915 he was the founding chairman of the Design and Industries Association
. Around the end of his political career, in 1920, he had Aberconway House
built as a residence in Mayfair
. He would also inherit the family estate (originally his maternal grandfather's) in Bodnant, where he extensively developed and added to the Bodnant Garden
. He was an avid horticulturalist and took interest in the breeding of rhododendron
s and magnolia
s. He sponsored several botanical collectors, including George Forrest
, and Rhododendron aberconwayi is named in his honor. He died in Hiraethog
aged 74.
, and had five children:
Charles McLaren, 1st Baron Aberconway
Charles Benjamin Bright McLaren, 1st Baron Aberconway, PC, QC, JP , known as Sir Charles McLaren, 1st Baronet between 1902 and 1911, was a Scottish jurist and Liberal Party politician. He was a landowner and industrialist.-Education:Born in Edinburgh, McLaren was the son of the politician Duncan...
and Laura Pochin.
Education
Born in Richmond upon Thames, he was educated at EtonEton 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 obtained a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (Oxbridge)
In the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, Bachelors of Arts of these universities are admitted to the degree of Master of Arts or Master in Arts on application after six or seven years' seniority as members of the university .There is no examination or study required for the degree...
from Balliol College, Oxford. In 1903 he became a 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...
of Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
.
Career
In 1906 he was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for West StaffordshireWest Staffordshire (UK Parliament constituency)
West Staffordshire was a parliamentary constituency in Staffordshire which returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1885, and then one member.-History:...
as a Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
, and was Private Under-Secretary
Private Secretary
In the United Kingdom government, a Private Secretary is a civil servant in a Department or Ministry, responsible to the Secretary of State or Minister...
to the President of the Board of Trade, David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
, until 1908. In 1910, he stood for his father's old seat of Bosworth
Bosworth (UK Parliament constituency)
Bosworth is a county 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:...
and replaced him. He left politics in 1922, and succeeded his father in the Barony in 1934.
McLaren was also a notable industrialist, and chaired companies from both sides of the family, including John Brown & Company
John Brown & Company
John Brown and Company of Clydebank was a pre-eminent Scottish marine engineering and shipbuilding firm, responsible for building many notable and world-famous ships, such as the , the , the , the , the , and the...
and the Tredegar Iron and Coal Company
Tredegar Iron and Coal Company
Tredegar Iron and Coal Company was a major maker of iron in Tredegar, Wales, which due to its need for coke became a major developer of coal mines and particularly the Sirhowy Valley of South Wales...
. In 1915 he was the founding chairman of the Design and Industries Association
Design and Industries Association
The Design and Industries Association is a United Kingdom charity whose object is to engage with all those who share a common interest in the contribution that design can make to the delivery of goods and services that are sustainable and enhance the quality of life for communities and the...
. Around the end of his political career, in 1920, he had Aberconway House
Aberconway House
Aberconway House, no. 38, South Street, Mayfair, in the City of Westminster, was constructed between 1920 and 1922 for the industrialist Henry McLaren, 2nd Baron Aberconway, in a neo-Georgian style....
built as a residence in Mayfair
Mayfair
Mayfair is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster.-History:Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place on the site that is Shepherd Market today...
. He would also inherit the family estate (originally his maternal grandfather's) in Bodnant, where he extensively developed and added to the Bodnant Garden
Bodnant Garden
Bodnant Garden is a National Trust property near Tal-y-Cafn, in the county borough of Conwy, Wales. Bodnant Garden is situated above the River Conwy and overlooks the Conwy valley towards the Carneddau range of mountains.- History :...
. He was an avid horticulturalist and took interest in the breeding of rhododendron
Rhododendron
Rhododendron is a genus of over 1 000 species of woody plants in the heath family, most with showy flowers...
s and magnolia
Magnolia
Magnolia is a large genus of about 210 flowering plant species in the subfamily Magnolioideae of the family Magnoliaceae. It is named after French botanist Pierre Magnol....
s. He sponsored several botanical collectors, including George Forrest
George Forrest (botanist)
George Forrest was a Scottish botanist, who was one of the first explorers of China's then remote southwestern province of Yunnan, generally regarded as the most biodiverse province in the country....
, and Rhododendron aberconwayi is named in his honor. He died in Hiraethog
Hiraethog Rural District
Hiraethog was a rural district of the administrative county of Denbighshire, Wales, from 1935 to 1974. The district took its name from the historic district of Mynydd Hiraethog....
aged 74.
Family
He married Christabel Mary Melville Macnaghten (1890–1974), the daughter of Sir Melville MacnaghtenMelville MacNaghten
Sir Melville Leslie Macnaghten CB KPM was Assistant Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police from 1903 to 1913....
, and had five children:
- Hon. Elizabeth Mary McLaren (31 May 1911 – 4 December 1991), married and had issue
- Charles McLaren, 3rd Baron AberconwayCharles McLaren, 3rd Baron AberconwayCharles Melville McLaren, 3rd Baron Aberconway, JP was a British industrialist and horticulturalist. He was the son of Henry McLaren, 2nd Baron Aberconway and Christabel Macnaghten.-Education:...
(1913–2003) - S/Ldr. Hon. John Francis McLarenJohn Francis McLarenJohn Francis McLaren was a Royal Air Force officer. He was the younger son of Henry McLaren, 2nd Baron Aberconway and Christabel MacNaghten.-Career:...
(1919–1953) - Dr. Hon. Anne McLarenAnne McLarenThe Hon. Dame Anne Laura Dorinthea McLaren, DBE, FRS, FRCOG was the daughter of Henry McLaren, 2nd Baron Aberconway and Christabel McNaughten. She became a leading figure in developmental biology. Her work helped lead to human in vitro fertilisation...
(1927–2007) - Hon. Christopher Melville McLaren (b. 15 April 1934), married and has issue