James Despencer-Robertson
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel James Archibald St George Fitzwarenne-Despencer Robertson OBE
(7 November 1886 – 5 May 1942), born James Archibald St George Robertson, was a Conservative Party
politician in the United Kingdom
.
He educated at Eton College
and New College, Oxford
. On the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 he was commissioned on the General List. He transferred to the Royal Welch Fusiliers
in 1916, ending the war as a Brevet
Major
and being appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1919.
He was elected at the 1922 general election
as Member of Parliament
(MP) for the Islington West
constituency in North London
. However his small majority was not sustained at the 1923 general election
, and was unsuccessful when he contested the seat again at the 1924
and 1929 general election
s.
However, in 1931, he was elected as MP for the Salisbury constituency
in Wiltshire
, at a by-election on 11 March
following the resignation of the Conservative MP Hugh Morrison
. Despencer-Robertson held the seat until his death in 1942, aged 55. On the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 he was commissioned on the General List and served until his death as Military Secretary
at Headquarters Southern Command, reaching the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(7 November 1886 – 5 May 1942), born James Archibald St George Robertson, was a Conservative Party
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 in the United Kingdom
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...
.
He educated at Eton College
Eton 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 New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
. On the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 he was commissioned on the General List. He transferred to the Royal Welch Fusiliers
Royal Welch Fusiliers
The Royal Welch Fusiliers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division. It was founded in 1689 to oppose James II and the imminent war with France...
in 1916, ending the war as a Brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
and being appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1919.
He was elected at the 1922 general election
United 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...
as 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) for the Islington West
Islington West (UK Parliament constituency)
Islington West was a borough constituency in the Metropolitan Borough of Islington, in North London.It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 until it was abolished for the 1950 general election...
constituency in North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
. However his small majority was not sustained at the 1923 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1923
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
, and was unsuccessful when he contested the seat again at the 1924
United Kingdom general election, 1924
- Seats summary :- References :* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* - External links :* * *...
and 1929 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1929
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
s.
However, in 1931, he was elected as MP for the Salisbury constituency
Salisbury (UK Parliament constituency)
Salisbury is a county constituency centred on the city of Salisbury in Wiltshire. It elects one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, by the first past the post voting system....
in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, at a by-election on 11 March
Salisbury by-election, 1931
The Salisbury by-election, 1931 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Salisbury in Wiltshire on 11 March 1931...
following the resignation of the Conservative MP Hugh Morrison
Hugh Morrison (UK politician)
Hugh Morrison was a British Conservative Party politician.He was elected as Member of Parliament for Wilton at a by-election in November 1918, holding the seat for a few weeks until it was abolished for the 1918 general election...
. Despencer-Robertson held the seat until his death in 1942, aged 55. On the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 he was commissioned on the General List and served until his death as Military Secretary
Military Secretary
The Military Secretary is the British Army appointment of which the incumbent is responsible for policy direction on personnel management for members of the British Army. It is a senior British Army appointment, held by an officer holding the rank of Major-General. The Military Secretary's...
at Headquarters Southern Command, reaching the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.