Horace King
Encyclopedia
Horace Maybray King, Baron Maybray-King, PC
(25 May 1901 – 3 September 1986), was a British
politician who served as a Labour
Member of Parliament
(MP) from 1950 until 1970 before becoming a life peer
. Following the death of Harry Hylton-Foster
in September 1965, King, who had served as deputy speaker for ten months, became the Speaker of the House of Commons
. He was the first person from the Labour Party ever to hold this position.
Horace King was born in Grangetown
near Middlesbrough
. His father John William King was an insurance salesman and Methodist local preacher. He was educated at Stockton Secondary School (Stockton-on-Tees) from 1912 to 1917 and never lost touch with these local roots. Horace attended King's College London
and graduated with a first-class Bachelor's degree in English. Upon graduating in 1922 Mr King worked as a teacher in Taunton's school in Southampton
. He became head of the English department in 1927. He left in 1947 to become headteacher of Regent's Park Grammar in 1947. Whilst working as a teacher, King studied part-time for his Ph.D. His thesis was on the Folios of Shakespeare. He received his doctorate from King's College London
in 1940. He had been excused from military service during World War II
due to a duodenal ulcer. He and his family - first wife Victoria Florence (née Harris); daughter Margaret - and Taunton's school were evacuated to Bournemouth from Southampton in 1940. Among the many pupils was 15 year old Benny Hill
. Dr King "Doc" was always a keen musician - piano;piano-accordion and organ - and during the 2nd World War he formed various concert parties - "The V Concert Party" was one - which toured the smaller outlying military bases and entertained troops not often reached by ENSA. He also raised funds by organising concerts to "buy" Spitfires and send aid to Russia. He is believed to have instigated fund raising in Hampshire by letters he wrote to the Hampshire Chronicle in July and August 1940. His "Spitfire Song" was recorded by Joe Loss and his orchestra. This is still available on HMV Songs of the 2nd World War (Track 18). He and a teacher colleague also were the first to translate "Lili Marlene" but were too slow to get their version to the song-publishing market.
Dr King first stood as a Labour party candidate in the 1945 general election
. Labour won with a massive landslide, but King was unsuccessful in his attempt to take the ultra safe Conservative
seat of New Forest and Christchurch
. The following year he was elected to Hampshire County Council
, on which he served until 1965 with only a single three-year break. His wife - Victoria Florence King was also politically active - a town councillor and Mayor of Southampton
in Coronation year 1953. She received a posthumous OBE.
In the 1950 general election
, King successfully fought the newly-created Southampton Test seat, albeit with a very small majority. He successfully defended the seat in the 1951 election
, which had been called after Labour's 1950 majority had proved unworkable. However, at the 1955 election
, King switched his candidacy to the far safer neighbouring seat of Southampton Itchen, where he was re-elected until he left Parliament in 1971. During his time in Parliament he established links with the USA and Canada and lectured there on the British Constitution and Parliament. During one lecture trip in Georgia he and Dr Martin Luther King appeared on a local TV station together under the billing of "The Two Dr Kings". He was instrumental in gaining UK support for the UNESCO
project of the raising of the temples at Abu Simbel
after the flooding of the Nile by the Aswan dam
. He promoted bills on corneal grafts and attempted to raise awareness in the 1960s of autism
. A keen European he served in the Council of Europe
.
When Harold Wilson
was elected as the first Labour Prime Minister
for 13 years in 1964, Dr King was selected as the Chairman of Ways and Means
and the Deputy Speaker.
On 9 September 1965 he was elected Speaker of the House of Commons
, a position he held until his retirement on 12 January 1971. Whilst serving as Speaker King was responsible for the speeding up of Question Time
and for changing the dress code allowing women MPs to wear trousers in the House of Commons chamber.
After leaving the Commons, he entered the House of Lords
and was created a life peer
as Baron Maybray-King of the City of Southampton
, and went on to serve as a Deputy Speaker. He took the "Maybray" from his own middle name which was his mother Margaret's maiden name.
He was an active fraternalist with the Loyal Order of Moose in Great Britain
. He was created an honorary Grand Governor in 1972 and served as Grand Governor in 1976-1977.
He was married four times:
An unpublished biography/autobiography of Maybray-King (A Boy Called Horace) is in the Parliamentary Archives.
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...
(25 May 1901 – 3 September 1986), was a British
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...
politician who served as a 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...
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) from 1950 until 1970 before becoming a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
. Following the death of Harry Hylton-Foster
Harry Hylton-Foster
Sir Harry Braustyn Hylton-Foster , was a British Conservative Party politician who served as an Member of Parliament from 1950 until his death...
in September 1965, King, who had served as deputy speaker for ten months, became the Speaker of the House of Commons
Speaker of the British House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, the United Kingdom's lower chamber of Parliament. The current Speaker is John Bercow, who was elected on 22 June 2009, following the resignation of Michael Martin...
. He was the first person from the Labour Party ever to hold this position.
Horace King was born in Grangetown
Grangetown, North Yorkshire
Grangetown is a township in the borough of Redcar and Cleveland and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the outskirts of Middlesbrough between the town and ICI Wilton. It is approximately 3.3 miles east of Middlesbrough centre and 4.4 miles from Redcar. Although...
near Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
. His father John William King was an insurance salesman and Methodist local preacher. He was educated at Stockton Secondary School (Stockton-on-Tees) from 1912 to 1917 and never lost touch with these local roots. Horace attended King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
and graduated with a first-class Bachelor's degree in English. Upon graduating in 1922 Mr King worked as a teacher in Taunton's school in Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
. He became head of the English department in 1927. He left in 1947 to become headteacher of Regent's Park Grammar in 1947. Whilst working as a teacher, King studied part-time for his Ph.D. His thesis was on the Folios of Shakespeare. He received his doctorate from King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
in 1940. He had been excused from military service during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
due to a duodenal ulcer. He and his family - first wife Victoria Florence (née Harris); daughter Margaret - and Taunton's school were evacuated to Bournemouth from Southampton in 1940. Among the many pupils was 15 year old Benny Hill
Benny Hill
Benny Hill was an English comedian and actor, notable for his long-running television programme The Benny Hill Show.-Early life:...
. Dr King "Doc" was always a keen musician - piano;piano-accordion and organ - and during the 2nd World War he formed various concert parties - "The V Concert Party" was one - which toured the smaller outlying military bases and entertained troops not often reached by ENSA. He also raised funds by organising concerts to "buy" Spitfires and send aid to Russia. He is believed to have instigated fund raising in Hampshire by letters he wrote to the Hampshire Chronicle in July and August 1940. His "Spitfire Song" was recorded by Joe Loss and his orchestra. This is still available on HMV Songs of the 2nd World War (Track 18). He and a teacher colleague also were the first to translate "Lili Marlene" but were too slow to get their version to the song-publishing market.
Dr King first stood as a Labour party candidate in the 1945 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
. Labour won with a massive landslide, but King was unsuccessful in his attempt to take the ultra safe 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...
seat of New Forest and Christchurch
New Forest and Christchurch (UK Parliament constituency)
New Forest and Christchurch was a county constituency in Hampshire which elected one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
. The following year he was elected to Hampshire County Council
Hampshire County Council
Hampshire County Council is the county council that governs the majority of the county of Hampshire in England. It provides the upper tier of local government, below which are district councils, and town and parish councils...
, on which he served until 1965 with only a single three-year break. His wife - Victoria Florence King was also politically active - a town councillor and Mayor of Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
in Coronation year 1953. She received a posthumous OBE.
In the 1950 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1950
The 1950 United Kingdom general election was the first general election ever after a full term of a Labour government. Despite polling over one and a half million votes more than the Conservatives, the election, held on 23 February 1950 resulted in Labour receiving a slim majority of just five...
, King successfully fought the newly-created Southampton Test seat, albeit with a very small majority. He successfully defended the seat in the 1951 election
United Kingdom general election, 1951
The 1951 United Kingdom general election was held eighteen months after the 1950 general election, which the Labour Party had won with a slim majority of just five seats...
, which had been called after Labour's 1950 majority had proved unworkable. However, at the 1955 election
United Kingdom general election, 1955
The 1955 United Kingdom general election was held on 26 May 1955, four years after the previous general election. It resulted in a substantially increased majority of 60 for the Conservative government under new leader and prime minister Sir Anthony Eden against Labour Party, now in their 20th year...
, King switched his candidacy to the far safer neighbouring seat of Southampton Itchen, where he was re-elected until he left Parliament in 1971. During his time in Parliament he established links with the USA and Canada and lectured there on the British Constitution and Parliament. During one lecture trip in Georgia he and Dr Martin Luther King appeared on a local TV station together under the billing of "The Two Dr Kings". He was instrumental in gaining UK support for the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
project of the raising of the temples at Abu Simbel
Abu Simbel
Abu Simbel temples refers to two massive rock temples in Abu Simbel in Nubia, southern Egypt on the western bank of Lake Nasser about 230 km southwest of Aswan...
after the flooding of the Nile by the Aswan dam
Aswan Dam
The Aswan Dam is an embankment dam situated across the Nile River in Aswan, Egypt. Since the 1950s, the name commonly refers to the High Dam, which is larger and newer than the Aswan Low Dam, which was first completed in 1902...
. He promoted bills on corneal grafts and attempted to raise awareness in the 1960s of autism
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
. A keen European he served in the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
.
When Harold Wilson
Harold Wilson
James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...
was elected as the first Labour Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
for 13 years in 1964, Dr King was selected as the Chairman of Ways and Means
Chairman of Ways and Means
In the United Kingdom, the Chairman of Ways and Means is a senior member of the House of Commons who acts as one of the Speaker's three deputies...
and the Deputy Speaker.
On 9 September 1965 he was elected Speaker of the House of Commons
Speaker of the British House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, the United Kingdom's lower chamber of Parliament. The current Speaker is John Bercow, who was elected on 22 June 2009, following the resignation of Michael Martin...
, a position he held until his retirement on 12 January 1971. Whilst serving as Speaker King was responsible for the speeding up of Question Time
Question Time
Question time in a parliament occurs when members of the parliament ask questions of government ministers , which they are obliged to answer. It usually occurs daily while parliament is sitting, though it can be cancelled in exceptional circumstances...
and for changing the dress code allowing women MPs to wear trousers in the House of Commons chamber.
After leaving the Commons, he entered the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
and was created a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baron Maybray-King of the City of Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, and went on to serve as a Deputy Speaker. He took the "Maybray" from his own middle name which was his mother Margaret's maiden name.
He was an active fraternalist with the Loyal Order of Moose in Great Britain
Moose International
Moose International is a fraternal and service organization founded in 1888, consisting of the Loyal Order of Moose, with nearly 1 million men in roughly 2,400 Lodges, in all 50 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces, plus Great Britain and Bermuda; and the Women of the Moose with more than...
. He was created an honorary Grand Governor in 1972 and served as Grand Governor in 1976-1977.
He was married four times:
- 1) Victoria Florence Harris (one daughter Margaret)
- 2) Una Porter who predeceased him
- 3) Ivy (divorced)
- 4) Sheila Maybray-King who survived him, returning to her home town of Stockton.
An unpublished biography/autobiography of Maybray-King (A Boy Called Horace) is in the Parliamentary Archives.