Ralph Beaumont
Encyclopedia
Ralph Edward Blackett Beaumont CBE
, TD
, DL
, JP
(12 February 1901 – 18 September 1977) styled The Honourable from 1907, was a British soldier and Conservative Party
politician.
in London
, he was the second son of Wentworth Beaumont, 1st Viscount Allendale
and his wife Lady Alexandrina Louise Maud Vane-Tempest, daughter of George Vane-Tempest, 5th Marquess of Londonderry
. His older brother was Wentworth Beaumont, 2nd Viscount Allendale
. Beaumont was educated in Eton College
and went then to Christ Church, Oxford
, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
in 1923 and with a Master of Arts
in 1953.
and was promoted to a second lieutenant of the Royal Welch Fusiliers
in 1931. Beaumont became lieutenant in 1934 and captain with the begin of the Second World War in 1939. He was finally advanced to lieutenant-colonel in 1947.
Beaumont received the Territorial Decoration
in 1948 and an additional clasp two years later. Having reached the age limit in 1956, he left the Army.
in 1929. Beaumont entered the British House of Commons
in 1931, sitting as a Member of Parliament
(MP) for Portsmouth Central
until the war's end in 1945. During this time he was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary
to the Postmaster-General
in 1935, a post he held until 1940, and to the Secretary of State for War
in 1942 until his defeat in the general election
three years later. From 1952, he worked as a Development Commissioner.
Beaumont was nominated High Sheriff of Montgomeryshire
in 1957, representing the county also as Justice of the Peace
. He was chairman of the Montgomeryshire County Agriculture Executive Committee and served as a member of the Council on Tribunals from 1958. Having been previously a Deputy Lieutenant
, he became Vice Lord Lieutenant of Montgomeryshire
in 1962 until his death in 1977. Beaumont was awarded a Commander
of the Order of the British Empire
in the New Year's Honours 1967.
Cecil Wray, at St George's, Hanover Square, and had by her three children. Beaumont's wife died in 1962 and he survived her until 1977; he was buried at St Peter's Church, Machynlleth. His older son was the Rhodesia
n politician John Ralph Beaumont
.
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...
, TD
Territorial Decoration
The Territorial Decoration was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army...
, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
, JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(12 February 1901 – 18 September 1977) styled The Honourable from 1907, was a British soldier and Conservative Party
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.
Background and education
Born at Belgrave SquareBelgrave Square
Belgrave Square is one of the grandest and largest 19th century squares in London, England. It is the centrepiece of Belgravia, and was laid out by the property contractor Thomas Cubitt for the 2nd Earl Grosvenor, later the 1st Marquess of Westminster, in the 1820s. Most of the houses were occupied...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, he was the second son of Wentworth Beaumont, 1st Viscount Allendale
Wentworth Beaumont, 1st Viscount Allendale
Wentworth Canning Blackett Beaumont, 1st Viscount Allendale PC, JP, DL , styled The Honourable Wentworth Beaumont between 1906 and 1907, was a British Liberal politician.-Background and education:...
and his wife Lady Alexandrina Louise Maud Vane-Tempest, daughter of George Vane-Tempest, 5th Marquess of Londonderry
George Vane-Tempest, 5th Marquess of Londonderry
George Henry Robert Charles William Vane-Tempest, 5th Marquess of Londonderry KP , styled Viscount Seaham between 1823 and 1854 and known as The Earl Vane between 1854 and 1872, was an Anglo-Irish aristocrat, businessman, diplomat and Conservative politician.-Background and education:Born George...
. His older brother was Wentworth Beaumont, 2nd Viscount Allendale
Wentworth Beaumont, 2nd Viscount Allendale
Wentworth Henry Canning Beaumont, 2nd Viscount Allendale KG CB OBE MC DL JP was a British peer.Allendale was the son of the 1st Viscount Allendale and was educated at Eton and graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1912. He was commissioned into the Territorial Force in 1912 and transferred...
. Beaumont was educated in Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and went then to Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1923 and with a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (Oxbridge)
In the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, Bachelors of Arts of these universities are admitted to the degree of Master of Arts or Master in Arts on application after six or seven years' seniority as members of the university .There is no examination or study required for the degree...
in 1953.
Military career
He joined the British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and was promoted to a second lieutenant of the Royal Welch Fusiliers
Royal Welch Fusiliers
The Royal Welch Fusiliers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division. It was founded in 1689 to oppose James II and the imminent war with France...
in 1931. Beaumont became lieutenant in 1934 and captain with the begin of the Second World War in 1939. He was finally advanced to lieutenant-colonel in 1947.
Beaumont received the Territorial Decoration
Territorial Decoration
The Territorial Decoration was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army...
in 1948 and an additional clasp two years later. Having reached the age limit in 1956, he left the Army.
Political career
He stood unsuccessfully for CannockCannock (UK Parliament constituency)
Cannock was a parliamentary constituency in Staffordshire which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 until it was abolished for the 1983 general election.- Members of Parliament :...
in 1929. Beaumont entered the British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
in 1931, sitting as a 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 Portsmouth Central
Portsmouth Central (UK Parliament constituency)
Portsmouth Central was a borough constituency in Portsmouth. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system.- History :...
until the war's end in 1945. During this time he was appointed 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 the Postmaster-General
United Kingdom Postmaster General
The Postmaster General of the United Kingdom is a defunct Cabinet-level ministerial position in HM Government. Aside from maintaining the postal system, the Telegraph Act of 1868 established the Postmaster General's right to exclusively maintain electric telegraphs...
in 1935, a post he held until 1940, and to the Secretary of State for War
Secretary of State for War
The position of Secretary of State for War, commonly called War Secretary, was a British cabinet-level position, first held by Henry Dundas . In 1801 the post became that of Secretary of State for War and the Colonies. The position was re-instated in 1854...
in 1942 until his defeat in the general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
three years later. From 1952, he worked as a Development Commissioner.
Beaumont was nominated High Sheriff of Montgomeryshire
High Sheriff of Montgomeryshire
The office of High Sheriff of Montgomeryshire was established in 1541 since when a High Sheriff was appointed annually until 1974 when the office was transformed into that of High Sheriff of Powys as part of the creation of Powys from the amalgamation of Montgomeryshire, Radnorshire and...
in 1957, representing the county also as Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
. He was chairman of the Montgomeryshire County Agriculture Executive Committee and served as a member of the Council on Tribunals from 1958. Having been previously a Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
, he became Vice Lord Lieutenant of Montgomeryshire
Lord Lieutenant of Montgomeryshire
The following is a list of people that have held the title of Lord Lieutenant of Montgomeryshire. After 1761, all Lord Lieutenants were also Custos Rotulorum of Montgomeryshire...
in 1962 until his death in 1977. Beaumont was awarded a Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
of the Order 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 New Year's Honours 1967.
Family
On 22 March 1926, he married Helena Mary Christine Wray, younger daughter of BrigadierBrigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
Cecil Wray, at St George's, Hanover Square, and had by her three children. Beaumont's wife died in 1962 and he survived her until 1977; he was buried at St Peter's Church, Machynlleth. His older son was the Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
n politician John Ralph Beaumont
John Ralph Beaumont
John Ralph Beaumont DL, JP was a Rhodesian politician. He was the son of Ralph Edward Blackett Beaumont, son of Wentworth Beaumont, 1st Viscount Allendale, and his wife Helena Mary Christine Wray, daughter of Cecil Wray....
.