Peter Macdonald (Conservative politician)
Encyclopedia
Sir Peter Drummond Macdonald (1895 – 2 December 1961) was a Canadian-born Conservative Party
politician in the United Kingdom
. He was Member of Parliament
(MP) for the Isle of Wight
from 1924 to 1959.
The son of Ronald A MacDonald, he was born in Nova Scotia
and attended Dalhousie College
in Halifax. He then travelled to the United Kingdom where he completed his education at Trinity Hall, Cambridge
. During the First World War
he served in France, reaching the rank of captain.
At the 1923 general election
he was chosen by the Conservatives to contest the Isle of Wight constituency, and narrowly failed to unseat the sitting Liberal
MP, J. E. B. Seely
. Seely held the seat with a majority of 90 votes in a three-way contest, with the Labour Party
candidate coming a distant third. When a further general election was called in 1924
, MacDonald faced Seely in a straight fight.
There was a marked swing to the Conservatives who secured a large majority, and MacDonald was comfortably elected to the House of Commons. He was parliamentary private secretary
to Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister
, President of the Board of Trade from 1928-1929.
During the Second World War
, MacDonald saw service in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
, reaching the rank of squadron leader.
MacDonald held a number of positions within the parliamentary Conservative Party including holding the chair of the Imperial Affairs Committee for more than 20 years. He also took part in a number of inter-parliamentary bodies, and was vice-chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (British Group) in 1945–1947. He was created a Knight Commander of the British Empire
in the Dissolution Honours
of 1945.
He was twice married: his first wife was Lady Jean Hervey, daughter of the Earl of Dundonald
. She died in January 1955, and in May 1956 he married Dr Phoebe Harvey of Shanklin
.
MacDonald retired from parliament at the 1959 general election
. He died following a riding accident near his home, Ningwood
Manor, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight
in December 1961.
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 was 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 Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight (UK Parliament constituency)
Isle of Wight is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Created by the Great Reform Act for the 1832 general election, it covers the whole of the Isle of Wight and elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post voting system.-...
from 1924 to 1959.
The son of Ronald A MacDonald, he was born in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
and attended Dalhousie College
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
in Halifax. He then travelled to the United Kingdom where he completed his education 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 :...
. During the First World War
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...
he served in France, reaching the rank of captain.
At the 1923 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1923
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
he was chosen by the Conservatives to contest the Isle of Wight constituency, and narrowly failed to unseat the sitting Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
MP, J. E. B. Seely
J. E. B. Seely, 1st Baron Mottistone
John Edward Bernard Seely, 1st Baron Mottistone CB, CMG, DSO, PC, TD was a British soldier and politician. He was a Conservative Member of Parliament from 1900 to 1904 and a Liberal MP from 1904 to 1922 and from 1923 to 1924...
. Seely held the seat with a majority of 90 votes in a three-way contest, with the 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...
candidate coming a distant third. When a further general election was called in 1924
United Kingdom general election, 1924
- Seats summary :- References :* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* - External links :* * *...
, MacDonald faced Seely in a straight fight.
There was a marked swing to the Conservatives who secured a large majority, and MacDonald was comfortably elected to the House of Commons. He was parliamentary private secretary
Parliamentary Private Secretary
A Parliamentary Private Secretary is a role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament by a senior minister in government or shadow minister to act as their contact for the House of Commons; this role is junior to that of Parliamentary Under-Secretary, which is a ministerial post, salaried by...
to Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister
Philip Cunliffe-Lister, 1st Earl of Swinton
Philip Cunliffe-Lister, 1st Earl of Swinton GBE, CH, MC, PC , known as Philip Lloyd-Greame until 1924 and as The Viscount Swinton from 1935 until 1955, was a prominent British Conservative politician from the 1920s until the 1950s.-Background and early life:Born as Philip Lloyd-Graeme, he was the...
, President of the Board of Trade from 1928-1929.
During the Second World War
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...
, MacDonald saw service in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
The Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve consists of a number of groupings of individual military reservists for the management and operation of the Royal Air Force's Air Training Corps and CCF Air Cadet formations, Volunteer Gliding Squadrons , Air Experience Flights, and also to form the...
, reaching the rank of squadron leader.
MacDonald held a number of positions within the parliamentary Conservative Party including holding the chair of the Imperial Affairs Committee for more than 20 years. He also took part in a number of inter-parliamentary bodies, and was vice-chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (British Group) in 1945–1947. He was created a Knight Commander of the British Empire
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...
in the Dissolution Honours
Dissolution Honours List
The Dissolution Honours List names those individuals receiving Honours from the Monarch at a time following the Dissolution of the United Kingdom Parliament. Typically, the list will include retiring MPs who are to be Life Peers. Sometimes the list will also include knighthoods for others who...
of 1945.
He was twice married: his first wife was Lady Jean Hervey, daughter of the Earl of Dundonald
Douglas Cochrane, 12th Earl of Dundonald
Lieutenant-General Douglas Mackinnon Baillie Hamilton Cochrane, 12th Earl of Dundonald was a Scottish representative peer and a British Army general.-Military career:...
. She died in January 1955, and in May 1956 he married Dr Phoebe Harvey of Shanklin
Shanklin
Shanklin is a popular seaside resort and civil parish on the Isle of Wight, England, located on the east coast's Sandown Bay. The sandy beach, its Old Village and a wooded ravine, Shanklin Chine, are its main attractions. The esplanade along the beach is occupied by hotels and restaurants for the...
.
MacDonald retired from parliament at the 1959 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1959
This United Kingdom general election was held on 8 October 1959. It marked a third successive victory for the ruling Conservative Party, led by Harold Macmillan...
. He died following a riding accident near his home, Ningwood
Ningwood
Ningwood is a village on the Isle of Wight. It is located about three miles east of Yarmouth in the northwest of the island. The Horse and Groom Pub is a prominent establishment in Ningwood, as is the Ningwood Bible Christian Chapel...
Manor, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight
Yarmouth, Isle of Wight
Yarmouth is a port and civil parish in the western part of the Isle of Wight, off the southern coast of mainland England. The town is named for its location at the mouth of the small Western Yar river...
in December 1961.