Robert Noton Barclay
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Noton Barclay (11 May 1872 – 24 November 1957) was an English export shipping merchant and banker and a Liberal Party
politician.
and Manchester University. In 1898 he married Helena Margaret Bythell and they had two sons, John and Robbie and three daughters, Margaret, Elizabeth and Rosalind. Barclay’s sister, Mary Jane (Quita) Barclay (1870–1939), married John Hope Simpson
who was Liberal MP for Taunton
from 1922-1924.
but he also had other extensive business interests. He was director of the District Bank
from 1913, being its Deputy Chairman from 1932 and Chairman from 1936-1946. He was also a director of the National Boiler Co. and of the Manchester Ship Canal Company.
for Manchester. He played a prominent role in the commercial life of Manchester, being President of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce from 1914–1916 and in 1931 he was a member of a British trade delegation to Argentina led by Sir Robert Burton-Chadwick
. He served as High Sheriff of Cheshire
for 1937-1938. Barclay was active in several branches of social and philanthropic work in Manchester, notably as Chairman of the Manchester YMCA
and as a member of the court and council of Manchester University. He was knighted in 1936.
in the Lake District
and presented them to the National Trust
. He later acquired Wray Castle
on Windermere
near Ambleside
and made a gift of the castle and 64 acres (258,999 m²) of the surrounding land to the National Trust
.
In 1943 he presented his then home at Mobberley
Hall, Cheshire to the Manchester Education Committee for use as a residential school.
in 1917 and amongst the committees he served on, he was a member of the Finance Committee. He was later an Alderman
of the City and served as Lord Mayor of Manchester for the year 1929-1930. In 1938 he was appointed as Chairman of the city’s Air Raid Precautions
special committee and the following year he was elected to chair the Emergency committee, an important position while the country was preparing for war. He held the post into the Second World War.
He was High Sheriff of Cheshire
for 1937.
at the 1923 general election
. In a straight fight he defeated the sitting Conservative
MP, Sir Edwin Stockton by a majority of 1,799 votes.
In 1924
he faced a new Tory
opponent Edward Brocklehurst Fielden
. By 1924 the Conservatives had revived nationally and Fielden regained the seat with a majority of 2,507. Barclay tried to win back Manchester Exchange at the 1929 general election
but in a three-cornered contest he again came in second behind the Conservative, with Labour
third. He did not stand for election to the House of Commons
again.
, Cheshire
.
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...
politician.
Family and education
Barclay was the son of Robert Barclay, a South America shipping merchant, with strong connections to the Lancashire cotton trade. He attended Uppingham SchoolUppingham School
Uppingham School is a co-educational independent school of the English public school tradition, situated in the small town of Uppingham in Rutland, England...
and Manchester University. In 1898 he married Helena Margaret Bythell and they had two sons, John and Robbie and three daughters, Margaret, Elizabeth and Rosalind. Barclay’s sister, Mary Jane (Quita) Barclay (1870–1939), married John Hope Simpson
John Hope Simpson
Sir John Hope Simpson was a British Liberal politician who served as a Member of Parliament and later in the Government of Newfoundland....
who was Liberal MP for Taunton
Taunton (UK Parliament constituency)
Taunton was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and its predecessors from 1295 to 2010, taking its name from the town of Taunton in Somerset...
from 1922-1924.
Career
Barclay was an export shipping merchant. He succeeded his father in the family firm, Robert Barclay & Co in ManchesterManchester
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...
but he also had other extensive business interests. He was director of the District Bank
District Bank
District Bank was a British retail bank which operated in England and Wales from 1829 until its merger into the National Westminster Bank in 1970; it remains a registered company but is dormant...
from 1913, being its Deputy Chairman from 1932 and Chairman from 1936-1946. He was also a director of the National Boiler Co. and of the Manchester Ship Canal Company.
Public life
Barclay served as a Justice of the PeaceJustice 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...
for Manchester. He played a prominent role in the commercial life of Manchester, being President of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce from 1914–1916 and in 1931 he was a member of a British trade delegation to Argentina led by Sir Robert Burton-Chadwick
Robert Burton-Chadwick
Sir Robert Burton-Chadwick, 1st Baronet was a shipping magnate and an English Conservative politician.Chadwick was born at Oxton, Cheshire, the son of Joseph Chadwick and Norah Irene Gibbs, being baptised with the name of Robert Chadwick...
. He served as High Sheriff of Cheshire
High Sheriff of Cheshire
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
for 1937-1938. Barclay was active in several branches of social and philanthropic work in Manchester, notably as Chairman of the Manchester YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
and as a member of the court and council of Manchester University. He was knighted in 1936.
Donations of property
In 1929 Barclay purchased land known the Ings and Stable Hills on the shore of Derwent WaterDerwent Water
Derwentwater is one of the principal bodies of water in the Lake District National Park in north west England. It lies wholly within the Borough of Allerdale, in the county of Cumbria....
in the Lake District
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
and presented them to the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
. He later acquired Wray Castle
Wray Castle
Wray Castle is a large private house at Claife in the English county of Cumbria, built in the Gothic Revival style in 1840. Today, the castle is used as a training centre, and is not open to the public...
on Windermere
Windermere
Windermere is the largest natural lake of England. It is also a name used in a number of places, including:-Australia:* Lake Windermere , a reservoir, Australian Capital Territory * Lake Windermere...
near Ambleside
Ambleside
Ambleside is a town in Cumbria, in North West England.Historically within the county of Westmorland, it is situated at the head of Windermere, England's largest lake...
and made a gift of the castle and 64 acres (258,999 m²) of the surrounding land to the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
.
In 1943 he presented his then home at Mobberley
Mobberley
Mobberley is a semi-rural village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, situated between Wilmslow and Knutsford. Mobberley railway station lies on the Manchester to Northwich and Chester line and was opened on 12 May, 1862 by the Cheshire...
Hall, Cheshire to the Manchester Education Committee for use as a residential school.
Manchester politics
Barclay was first elected a member of Manchester City CouncilManchester City Council
Manchester City Council is the local government authority for Manchester, a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. It is composed of 96 councillors, three for each of the 32 electoral wards of Manchester. Currently the council is controlled by the Labour Party and is led by...
in 1917 and amongst the committees he served on, he was a member of the Finance Committee. He was later an Alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
of the City and served as Lord Mayor of Manchester for the year 1929-1930. In 1938 he was appointed as Chairman of the city’s Air Raid Precautions
Air Raid Precautions
Air Raid Precautions was an organisation in the United Kingdom set up as an aid in the prelude to the Second World War dedicated to the protection of civilians from the danger of air-raids. It was created in 1924 as a response to the fears about the growing threat from the development of bomber...
special committee and the following year he was elected to chair the Emergency committee, an important position while the country was preparing for war. He held the post into the Second World War.
He was High Sheriff of Cheshire
High Sheriff of Cheshire
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
for 1937.
Parliament
Barclay first stood for ParliamentParliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
at the 1923 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1923
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
. In a straight fight he defeated the sitting 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...
MP, Sir Edwin Stockton by a majority of 1,799 votes.
In 1924
United Kingdom general election, 1924
- Seats summary :- References :* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* - External links :* * *...
he faced a new Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
opponent Edward Brocklehurst Fielden
Edward Brocklehurst Fielden
Edward Brocklehurst Fielden was a British businessman and Conservative Party politician.A director of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, he was elected at the 1900 general election as Member of Parliament for the Middleton division of Lancashire, but did not defend the seat at the 1906 general...
. By 1924 the Conservatives had revived nationally and Fielden regained the seat with a majority of 2,507. Barclay tried to win back Manchester Exchange at the 1929 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1929
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
but in a three-cornered contest he again came in second behind the Conservative, with Labour
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...
third. He did not stand for election to the 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...
again.
Death
Barclay died in hospital following an accident on 24 November 1957 aged 85 years. Lady Barclay survived until 27 October 1960 when she died at the family home, Far Hills, Alderley EdgeAlderley Edge
Alderley Edge is a village and civil parish within the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 4,409....
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
.