Jardine Whyte
Encyclopedia
Jardine Bell Whyte was a British
consulting engineer and naval architect, who later served a single term in Parliament as a Conservative
. He was generally loyal to the National Government but pressed for stronger defence and the use of modern engineering to help society.
. He went to the Royal High School
in Edinburgh, and then the University of Edinburgh
where he studied engineering. He obtained membership of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers
and went into business as an engineer. From 1907 he worked as a consulting engineer and Naval Architect in San Francisco.
in the United States and Canada; the next year, he was promoted to be Chief Technical Adviser and Director in the same office. He returned to Britain in 1921 when the Ministry was abolished. In November 1923 he married Maisie Dreicer, widow of Michael Dreicer, at St Columba's Church
, Pont Street. His wife, who was from a New York
family but became prominent in British society: she gave a private dance for Claudia Crichton Stuart, daughter of Lord Ninian Crichton-Stuart. Whyte gained experience lecturing on publicity campaigns, often in the United States.
was called in October 1931, Whyte was chosen at the last minute as the Conservative
candidate for North East Derbyshire; however the constituency was reckoned to be safely held by the Labour Party and the Conservatives were not expected to fight it. On election day, Whyte prevailed over the sitting Labour MP Frank Lee with a majority of 1,334 votes (a candidate from Sir Oswald Mosley
's New Party lost his deposit).
to fund voluntary hospitals. He took more than a year to make his maiden speech
which defended the 1923 settlement of war debts to the United States as the best obtainable. When a motion from Government members supported the abolition of aerial bombardment
without any reservation, Whyte joined with other Conservative MPs in signing a motion urging its retention 'for police purposes'. In December 1933 Whyte welcomed the announcement that the Government would assist in the construction of the Cunard Line
's 'Hull no. 534
' and called for more help for British shipping firms to enable a full revival of British shipbuilding.
Late in 1934 Whyte pressed the Air Ministry to guarantee that the air services were sufficient to protect the Navy against air attacks. He also joined with other Conservative MPs in putting down an amendment to the Loyal Address after the King's Speech which called for the construction of elevated roadways in major cities to relieve road congestion. Whyte decided not to seek re-election at the 1935 general election
.
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...
consulting engineer and naval architect, who later served a single term in Parliament as a 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...
. He was generally loyal to the National Government but pressed for stronger defence and the use of modern engineering to help society.
Engineering training
Whyte was from a Scottish family; his father Robert lived at Lauchope House in Lanarkshire and in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. He went to the Royal High School
Royal High School (Edinburgh)
The Royal High School of Edinburgh is a co-educational state school administered by the City of Edinburgh Council. The school was founded in 1128 and is one of the oldest schools in Scotland, and has, throughout its history, been high achieving, consistently attaining well above average exam results...
in Edinburgh, and then the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
where he studied engineering. He obtained membership of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Institution of Mechanical Engineers
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers is the British engineering society based in central London, representing mechanical engineering. It is licensed by the Engineering Council UK to assess candidates for inclusion on ECUK's Register of professional Engineers...
and went into business as an engineer. From 1907 he worked as a consulting engineer and Naval Architect in San Francisco.
War service
After the outbreak of the First World War, Whyte returned to Britain and joined the war effort. He became Chief Engineer on board HM Transport Nile in 1915, then in 1917 he was personal assistant to Sir William Thomson, Director of Auxiliary Ships' Engines at the Admiralty. At the end of 1917 he became Assistant Director and Manager for the Ministry of ShippingMinister of Shipping
The Minister of Shipping was a British government post created during the First World War and again during the Second World War. In 1941 it was merged into the position of Minister of Transport which was then renamed Minister of War Transport....
in the United States and Canada; the next year, he was promoted to be Chief Technical Adviser and Director in the same office. He returned to Britain in 1921 when the Ministry was abolished. In November 1923 he married Maisie Dreicer, widow of Michael Dreicer, at St Columba's Church
St Columba's Church, London
St Columba's Church is one of the two London congregations of the Church of Scotland. The church building is located in Pont Street, Knightsbridge, near Harrod's department store....
, Pont Street. His wife, who was from a New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
family but became prominent in British society: she gave a private dance for Claudia Crichton Stuart, daughter of Lord Ninian Crichton-Stuart. Whyte gained experience lecturing on publicity campaigns, often in the United States.
1931 election
After a general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1931
The United Kingdom general election on Tuesday 27 October 1931 was the last in the United Kingdom not held on a Thursday. It was also the last election, and the only one under universal suffrage, where one party received an absolute majority of the votes cast.The 1931 general election was the...
was called in October 1931, Whyte was chosen at the last minute as the 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...
candidate for North East Derbyshire; however the constituency was reckoned to be safely held by the Labour Party and the Conservatives were not expected to fight it. On election day, Whyte prevailed over the sitting Labour MP Frank Lee with a majority of 1,334 votes (a candidate from Sir Oswald Mosley
Oswald Mosley
Sir Oswald Ernald Mosley, 6th Baronet, of Ancoats, was an English politician, known principally as the founder of the British Union of Fascists...
's New Party lost his deposit).
Parliament
Whyte described himself as a 'National Conservative' MP. He pressed for the legalisation of sweepstakesSweepstakes
The United States consumer sales promotion known as a sweepstake has become associated with marketing promotions targeted toward both generating enthusiasm and providing incentive reactions among customers by enticing consumers to submit free entries into drawings of chance...
to fund voluntary hospitals. He took more than a year to make his maiden speech
Maiden speech
A maiden speech is the first speech given by a newly elected or appointed member of a legislature or parliament.Traditions surrounding maiden speeches vary from country to country...
which defended the 1923 settlement of war debts to the United States as the best obtainable. When a motion from Government members supported the abolition of aerial bombardment
Aerial bomb
An aerial bomb is a type of explosive weapon intended to travel through the air with predictable trajectories, usually designed to be dropped from an aircraft...
without any reservation, Whyte joined with other Conservative MPs in signing a motion urging its retention 'for police purposes'. In December 1933 Whyte welcomed the announcement that the Government would assist in the construction of the Cunard Line
Cunard Line
Cunard Line is a British-American owned shipping company based at Carnival House in Southampton, England and operated by Carnival UK. It has been a leading operator of passenger ships on the North Atlantic for over a century...
's 'Hull no. 534
RMS Queen Mary
RMS Queen Mary is a retired ocean liner that sailed primarily in the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967 for the Cunard Line...
' and called for more help for British shipping firms to enable a full revival of British shipbuilding.
Late in 1934 Whyte pressed the Air Ministry to guarantee that the air services were sufficient to protect the Navy against air attacks. He also joined with other Conservative MPs in putting down an amendment to the Loyal Address after the King's Speech which called for the construction of elevated roadways in major cities to relieve road congestion. Whyte decided not to seek re-election at the 1935 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1935
The United Kingdom general election held on 14 November 1935 resulted in a large, though reduced, majority for the National Government now led by Conservative Stanley Baldwin. The greatest number of MPs, as before, were Conservative, while the National Liberal vote held steady...
.