Robert Boscawen
Encyclopedia
Robert Thomas Boscawen is a retired British
Conservative
politician.
, of Tregothnan
, near Truro
, and a member of a very old Cornish
family, Boscawen was educated at West Downs School
and Eton College
. During World War II
, he was a tank commander in the Guards Armoured Division, during which time he was very seriously wounded and sustained disfiguring burns.
(MP) for twenty-two years, and at the time of his election was a member of the Conservative Monday Club
. For thirteen years, from 1970 until 1983, he was the member for Wells
, then as the result of boundary changes his constituency became Somerton and Frome, which he held for a further nine years, from 1983 to 1992.
Boscawen served as a government whip from 1981, and was Comptroller of the Royal Household from 1988 to 1989. He became a member of the Privy Council
in 1992, in the same year that he retired from the House of Commons.
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...
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.
Background and education
The son of Evelyn Hugh John Boscawen, eighth Viscount FalmouthViscount Falmouth
Viscount Falmouth is a title that has been created twice, first in the Peerage of England, and then in the Peerage of Great Britain. The first creation came in the Peerage of England in 1674 for George FitzRoy, illegitimate son of King Charles II by Barbara Villiers. He was created Earl of...
, of Tregothnan
Tregothnan
The Tregothnan Estate is located beside the village of St Michael Penkivel south-east of Truro in Cornwall, United Kingdom.The house and estate is the traditional home of the Boscawen family, and the seat of Lord Falmouth. The original house was built in Plantagenet times and sacked in the English...
, near Truro
Truro
Truro is a city and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The city is the centre for administration, leisure and retail in Cornwall, with a population recorded in the 2001 census of 17,431. Truro urban statistical area, which includes parts of surrounding parishes, has a 2001 census...
, and a member of a very old Cornish
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
family, Boscawen was educated at West Downs School
West Downs School
West Downs School, Romsey Road, Winchester, Hampshire, was an English independent preparatory school, which was established in 1897 and closed in 1988.-History:...
and 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"....
. During 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...
, he was a tank commander in the Guards Armoured Division, during which time he was very seriously wounded and sustained disfiguring burns.
Career
He was a 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 twenty-two years, and at the time of his election was a member of the Conservative Monday Club
Conservative Monday Club
The Conservative Monday Club is a British pressure group "on the right-wing" of the Conservative Party.-Overview:...
. For thirteen years, from 1970 until 1983, he was the member for Wells
Wells (UK Parliament constituency)
Wells is a county constituency centred on the city of Wells in Somerset. It elects one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, by the first past the post voting system...
, then as the result of boundary changes his constituency became Somerton and Frome, which he held for a further nine years, from 1983 to 1992.
Boscawen served as a government whip from 1981, and was Comptroller of the Royal Household from 1988 to 1989. He became a member of the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
in 1992, in the same year that he retired from the House of Commons.