Leonard Lyle, 1st Baron Lyle of Westbourne
Encyclopedia
Leonard Lyle, 1st Baron Lyle of Westbourne (22 July 1882 – 6 March 1954) was a British industrialist and Conservative Party
politician.
He was born in London, the only son of Charles Lyle and his wife, Mary, née Brown. He was educated at Harrow School
and at Trinity Hall, Cambridge
.
The family were major ship-owners who had diversified into sugar refining, and Leonard joined the firm in 1903, and became a director when his father retired in 1909. When Abram Lyle & Sons merged with Henry Tate & Sons in 1921 to form Tate & Lyle
, he became a director of the new company, then its chairman in 1928, and president in 1937.
Lyle is best known for leading the opposition to the post-war Labour Government's plans to nationalise to sugar industry. The campaign was fronted by a cartoon character, "Mr Cube", drawn by artist Bobby St John Cooper.
in 1922
, 1923
, and 1924
. He became chairman of the Lawn Tennis Association
in 1932, having been the first chairman of the International Lawn Tennis Club from 1924 to 1927. He was also president of the Professional Golfers' Association
from 1952 to 1954, and was elected a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron
in 1952.
(MP) for the Stratford division of West Ham
at the 1918 general election
, but was defeated at the 1922 general election
. He was returned to the House of Commons in 1923 general election
for Epping
, but stood down at the 1924 general election
to make way for Winston Churchill
. He did not stand again until 1940, when he was elected as MP for Bournemouth
at an unopposed by-election, and held the seat until he was ennobled in October 1945 in Churchill's resignation honours list, having stood aside to make way for Brendan Bracken.
He was knighted in the King's Birthday Honours 1923, made a baronet
on 22 June 1932, and was ennobled on 13 September 1945 as Baron Lyle of Westbourne
.
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.
He was born in London, the only son of Charles Lyle and his wife, Mary, née Brown. He was educated at Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
and at Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Trinity Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the fifth-oldest college of the university, having been founded in 1350 by William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich.- Foundation :...
.
The family were major ship-owners who had diversified into sugar refining, and Leonard joined the firm in 1903, and became a director when his father retired in 1909. When Abram Lyle & Sons merged with Henry Tate & Sons in 1921 to form Tate & Lyle
Tate & Lyle
Tate & Lyle plc is a British-based multinational agribusiness. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index as of 20 June 2011...
, he became a director of the new company, then its chairman in 1928, and president in 1937.
Lyle is best known for leading the opposition to the post-war Labour Government's plans to nationalise to sugar industry. The campaign was fronted by a cartoon character, "Mr Cube", drawn by artist Bobby St John Cooper.
Sport
Lyle was a notable athlete who represented Great Britain at lawn tennis, competing the Men's Singles at the Wimbledon ChampionshipsThe Championships, Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
in 1922
1922 Wimbledon Championships
The 1922 Wimbledon Championships were the 41st edition of the prestigious tennis tournament, held at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London....
, 1923
1923 Wimbledon Championships
-Men's Singles: Bill Johnston defeated Frank Hunter 6-0 6-3 6-1-Women's Singles: Suzanne Lenglen defeated Kitty McKane Godfree 6-2, 6-2...
, and 1924
1924 Wimbledon Championships
-Men's Singles: Jean Borotra defeated René Lacoste 6-1 3-6 6-1 3-6 6-4-Women's Singles: Kitty McKane Godfree defeated Helen Wills Moody 4-6, 6-4, 6-4...
. He became chairman of the Lawn Tennis Association
Lawn Tennis Association
The Lawn Tennis Association is the national governing body of tennis in Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.As the governing body, the LTA is responsible for the coaching and development of junior players, offering courses and qualifications on coaching, as well as the...
in 1932, having been the first chairman of the International Lawn Tennis Club from 1924 to 1927. He was also president of the Professional Golfers' Association
Professional Golfers' Association (Great Britain & Ireland)
The Professional Golfers' Association is the professional body which represents the interests of teaching and club golf professionals in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland...
from 1952 to 1954, and was elected a member of the Royal Yacht Squadron
Royal Yacht Squadron
The Royal Yacht Squadron is the most prestigious yacht club in the United Kingdom and arguably the world. Its clubhouse is located in Cowes Castle on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom...
in 1952.
Politics
He was elected as Member of ParliamentMember 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 Stratford division of West Ham
Stratford West Ham (UK Parliament constituency)
Stratford was a parliamentary constituency in the Borough of West Ham in the South-West of Essex , which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first-past-the-post voting system.The constituency was created for the 1918...
at the 1918 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1918
The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did...
, but was defeated 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...
. He was returned to the House of Commons in 1923 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1923
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
for Epping
Epping (UK Parliament constituency)
Epping was a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 to 1974. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
, but stood down at the 1924 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1924
- Seats summary :- References :* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* - External links :* * *...
to make way for Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
. He did not stand again until 1940, when he was elected as MP for Bournemouth
Bournemouth (UK Parliament constituency)
Bournemouth is a former United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency. The seaside resort was created as a parliamentary borough in 1918 and the seat existed until it was divided in 1950...
at an unopposed by-election, and held the seat until he was ennobled in October 1945 in Churchill's resignation honours list, having stood aside to make way for Brendan Bracken.
He was knighted in the King's Birthday Honours 1923, made a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
on 22 June 1932, and was ennobled on 13 September 1945 as Baron Lyle of Westbourne
Baron Lyle of Westbourne
Baron Lyle of Westbourne, of Canford Cliffs in the County of Dorset, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 13 September 1945 for Sir Leonard Lyle, 1st Baronet, the former Member of Parliament for Stratford, Epping and Bournemouth...
.