Leslie Haden-Guest, 1st Baron Haden-Guest
Encyclopedia
Leslie Haden Haden-Guest, 1st Baron Haden-Guest MC
(10 March 1877, Oldham
– 20 August 1960) was a British author, journalist, doctor and Labour Party
politician.
, Lancashire
, England
, the son of Catharine Anna (née Johnson) and Alexander Haden-Guest, a physician and surgeon of Manchester
who was an active worker for the left
. He was educated first at William Hulme's Grammar School
, then studied medicine at Owens College, Manchester
and the London Hospital.
He served in the Royal Army Medical Corps
in the Boer War
, World War I
and World War II
, winning a Military Cross
. He was the founder of the Anglo-French Committee of the Red Cross and the Order of St. John
. He was a member of the London County Council
for Woolwich (East), 1919-1922. He was a Labour Member of Parliament
(MP) for Southwark North
, 1923-1927 and for Islington North
, 1937-1950 and founded the Labour Party Commonwealth Group. He was created a peer in 1950 and was a Lord-in-Waiting to the King, February-October 1951 and thereafter an Assistant Opposition Whip in the House of Lords.
In 1898, he married Edith, daughter of Max Low of London, by whom he had two sons, Stephen and Richard. He was divorced in 1909 and in 1910 married Muriel Carmel, (the daughter of Albert Goldsmid
), by whom he had two sons, David (who was killed in the Spanish Civil War
) and Peter
and a daughter, Angela. His third marriage was in 1944 to Dr. Edith Edgar Macqueen, daughter of George Macqueen. He was the grandfather of actor Christopher Guest
.
Haden-Guest converted to Judaism
before his marriage to Muriel Goldsmid, his second wife. He "renounced Judaism" in 1924, describing himself subsequently as a "Konfessionslos". He was the first Jew to stand for Parliament as a Labour candidate.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(10 March 1877, Oldham
Oldham
Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amid the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock, south-southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of the city of Manchester...
– 20 August 1960) was a British author, journalist, doctor and Labour Party
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...
politician.
Life and career
Haden-Guest was born in OldhamOldham
Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amid the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock, south-southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of the city of Manchester...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the son of Catharine Anna (née Johnson) and Alexander Haden-Guest, a physician and surgeon of Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
who was an active worker for the left
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
. He was educated first at William Hulme's Grammar School
William Hulme's Grammar School
William Hulme's Grammar School is an Academy in Whalley Range, Manchester, England.-History:WHGS was founded on 26 January 1887 as a grammar school. It ceased to be a direct grant school when the Labour government abolished the scheme, and was therefore forced to become private...
, then studied medicine at Owens College, Manchester
Victoria University of Manchester
The Victoria University of Manchester was a university in Manchester, England. On 1 October 2004 it merged with the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology to form a new entity, "The University of Manchester".-1851 - 1951:The University was founded in 1851 as Owens College,...
and the London Hospital.
He served in the Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
in the Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
, World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and 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...
, winning a Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
. He was the founder of the Anglo-French Committee of the Red Cross and the Order of St. John
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
. He was a member of the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
for Woolwich (East), 1919-1922. He was a Labour 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 Southwark North
Southwark North (UK Parliament constituency)
Southwark North was a parliamentary constituency in the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark, in South London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.-History:...
, 1923-1927 and for Islington North
Islington North (UK Parliament constituency)
Islington North is a parliamentary 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...
, 1937-1950 and founded the Labour Party Commonwealth Group. He was created a peer in 1950 and was a Lord-in-Waiting to the King, February-October 1951 and thereafter an Assistant Opposition Whip in the House of Lords.
In 1898, he married Edith, daughter of Max Low of London, by whom he had two sons, Stephen and Richard. He was divorced in 1909 and in 1910 married Muriel Carmel, (the daughter of Albert Goldsmid
Albert Goldsmid
Colonel Albert Edward Williamson Goldsmid, MVO was a British officer. He was the founder of the Jewish Lads' Brigade and the Maccabaeans.-Personal life:...
), by whom he had two sons, David (who was killed in the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
) and Peter
Peter Haden-Guest, 4th Baron Haden-Guest
Peter Haden-Guest, 4th Baron Haden-Guest , was a British United Nations diplomat and member of the British House of Lords...
and a daughter, Angela. His third marriage was in 1944 to Dr. Edith Edgar Macqueen, daughter of George Macqueen. He was the grandfather of actor Christopher Guest
Christopher Guest
Christopher Haden-Guest, 5th Baron Haden-Guest , better known as Christopher Guest, is an American screenwriter, composer, musician, director, actor and comedian. He is most widely known in Hollywood for having written, directed and starred in several improvisational "mockumentary" films that...
.
Haden-Guest converted to Judaism
Conversion to Judaism
Conversion to Judaism is a formal act undertaken by a non-Jewish person who wishes to be recognised as a full member of the Jewish community. A Jewish conversion is both a religious act and an expression of association with the Jewish people...
before his marriage to Muriel Goldsmid, his second wife. He "renounced Judaism" in 1924, describing himself subsequently as a "Konfessionslos". He was the first Jew to stand for Parliament as a Labour candidate.