Philip Dawson
Encyclopedia
Sir Philip Dawson was a British
electrical engineer
and Conservative
politician.
Following education at Ghent
and Liège
Universities, Dawson became a member of the Institutes of Civil, Mechanical, and Electrical Engineers. He became a partner in the firm of Kincaid, Waller, Manville and Dawson, consulting engineers. He worked on dock developments and electrical supply and traction projects throughout the British Empire
, on the continent of Europe and in South America. He was engaged in the electrification of the London Brighton and South Coast Railway, and was awarded the George Stephenson Medal by the Institute of Civil Engineers and the Gold Medal by the Institute of Transport
. Dawson developed an ability to converse in French, German, Italian, Dutch
, Portuguese and Russian.
During the First World War Dawson worked for the Ministry of Munitions, and was a member of the Water Power Resources Committee of the Board of Trade
.
In 1919 he was made a chevalier of the Belgian Order of Leopold for technical services rendered during the war, and in the following year was knighted
by George V
.
In 1902 Dawson moved to Sydenham
, South London. He received a commission in the Volunteer Force
, rising to the rank of lieutenant-colonel and becoming commanding officer of the 3rd Volunteer Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment. He became involved in Conservative politics, and was elected to the London County Council
as a member of the Conservative-backed Municipal Reform Party
, representing Lewisham West in 1919.
In 1921, Sir Edward Coates, the sitting Member of Parliament
(MP) for Lewisham West, died suddenly. Dawson was elected as Conservative MP at the ensuing by-election
. He held the seat at successive elections until his death. He was described as being on the "right centre" of the Conservative Party. In 1935 his opposition to the Government of India Act
nearly led to break with the party. Dawson was an admirer of the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini
, and in April 1938 he became chairman of the newly formed Anglo-Italian Parliamentary Committee.
In June 1927 Dawson operating from St. Stephen's House, Victoria Embankment, Westminster S.W.1. prepared a report, addressed to Sir Felix J. C. Pole
, General Manager, Great Western Railway, Paddington Station, W.2. Entitled Electrification of the Main Line Taunton to Penzance and Branches West of Taunton.
In September 1938 he attended the Inter-Parliamentary Business Congress in Warsaw
. On his journey home he was taken ill with a heart complaint, and died in a Berlin
nursing home on 24 September, aged 71.
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...
electrical engineer
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
and 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...
politician.
Following education at Ghent
Ghent University
Ghent University is a Dutch-speaking public university located in Ghent, Belgium. It is one of the larger Flemish universities, consisting of 32,000 students and 7,100 staff members. The current rector is Paul Van Cauwenberge.It was established in 1817 by King William I of the Netherlands...
and Liège
University of Liège
The University of Liège , in Liège, Wallonia, Belgium, is a major public university in the French Community of Belgium. Its official language is French.-History:...
Universities, Dawson became a member of the Institutes of Civil, Mechanical, and Electrical Engineers. He became a partner in the firm of Kincaid, Waller, Manville and Dawson, consulting engineers. He worked on dock developments and electrical supply and traction projects throughout the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
, on the continent of Europe and in South America. He was engaged in the electrification of the London Brighton and South Coast Railway, and was awarded the George Stephenson Medal by the Institute of Civil Engineers and the Gold Medal by the Institute of Transport
Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport
The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport is a professional body representing the transport and logistics industries worldwide...
. Dawson developed an ability to converse in French, German, Italian, Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
, Portuguese and Russian.
During the First World War Dawson worked for the Ministry of Munitions, and was a member of the Water Power Resources Committee of the Board of Trade
Board of Trade
The Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, originating as a committee of inquiry in the 17th century and evolving gradually into a government department with a diverse range of functions...
.
In 1919 he was made a chevalier of the Belgian Order of Leopold for technical services rendered during the war, and in the following year was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
by George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
.
In 1902 Dawson moved to Sydenham
Sydenham
Sydenham is an area and electoral ward in the London Borough of Lewisham; although some streets towards Crystal Palace Park, Forest Hill and Penge are outside the ward and in the London Borough of Bromley, and some streets off Sydenham Hill are in the London Borough of Southwark. Sydenham was in...
, South London. He received a commission in the Volunteer Force
Volunteer Force (Great Britain)
The Volunteer Force was a citizen army of part-time rifle, artillery and engineer corps, created as a popular movement in 1859. Originally highly autonomous, the units of volunteers became increasingly integrated with the British Army after the Childers Reforms in 1881, before forming part of the...
, rising to the rank of lieutenant-colonel and becoming commanding officer of the 3rd Volunteer Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment. He became involved in Conservative politics, and was elected to 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...
as a member of the Conservative-backed Municipal Reform Party
Municipal Reform Party
The Municipal Reform Party was a local party allied to the parliamentary Conservative Party in the County of London. The party contested elections to both the London County Council and metropolitan borough councils of the county from 1906 to 1945.-Formation:...
, representing Lewisham West in 1919.
In 1921, Sir Edward Coates, the sitting 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 Lewisham West, died suddenly. Dawson was elected as Conservative MP at the ensuing by-election
Lewisham West by-election, 1921
The Lewisham West by-election, 1921 was a by-election held on 13 September 1921 for the British House of Commons constituency of Lewisham West....
. He held the seat at successive elections until his death. He was described as being on the "right centre" of the Conservative Party. In 1935 his opposition to the Government of India Act
Government of India Act 1935
The Government of India Act 1935 was originally passed in August 1935 , and is said to have been the longest Act of Parliament ever enacted by that time. Because of its length, the Act was retroactively split by the Government of India Act 1935 into two separate Acts:# The Government of India...
nearly led to break with the party. Dawson was an admirer of the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
, and in April 1938 he became chairman of the newly formed Anglo-Italian Parliamentary Committee.
In June 1927 Dawson operating from St. Stephen's House, Victoria Embankment, Westminster S.W.1. prepared a report, addressed to Sir Felix J. C. Pole
Felix Pole
Sir Felix John Clewett Pole was a British railway manager and industrialist. He was general manager of the Great Western Railway , before becoming executive chairman of Associated Electrical Industries, a post he held until 1945.-References:...
, General Manager, Great Western Railway, Paddington Station, W.2. Entitled Electrification of the Main Line Taunton to Penzance and Branches West of Taunton.
In September 1938 he attended the Inter-Parliamentary Business Congress in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
. On his journey home he was taken ill with a heart complaint, and died in a Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
nursing home on 24 September, aged 71.