Sir Robert Bird, 2nd Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Bland Bird, 2nd Baronet KBE
(20 September 1876 – 20 November 1960) was a Conservative Party
politician in the United Kingdom
.
(MP) for Wolverhampton West
at a by-election in March 1922
following the death of his father Sir Alfred
, who had been the constituency's MP since January 1910.
Robert Bird was re-elected at the next three general elections, but was defeated at the 1929 general election
by the Labour Party
candidate William Brown. Bird regained the seat in 1931
, and held it until he stood down at the 1945 general election
.
Bird had succeeded to his father's baronetcy, and also succeeded him as chairman of the family's business Alfred Bird and Sons
, manufacturing chemists. The company had been established by his grandfather Alfred Bird
, who invented both baking powder
and custard powder.
He was invested as a Chevalier in the French Légion d'honneur
in 1947 and as an Officer of the Order of Leopold (Belgium) (in recognition of services
rendered to Belgian interests during the war) in 1951. In the New Year Honours list in 1954, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
(KBE), "for political and public services".
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...
(20 September 1876 – 20 November 1960) was a 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 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...
.
Biography
He was elected as 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 Wolverhampton West
Wolverhampton West (UK Parliament constituency)
Wolverhampton West was a borough constituency in the town of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands of England. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.-History:...
at a by-election in March 1922
Wolverhampton West by-election, 1922
The Wolverhampton West by-election, 1922 was a by-election held for the British House of Commons constituency of Wolverhampton West in Wolverhampton on 7 March 1922...
following the death of his father Sir Alfred
Sir Alfred Bird, 1st Baronet
Sir Alfred Frederick Bird, 1st Baronet was a British chemist, food manufacturer and Conservative Party politician...
, who had been the constituency's MP since January 1910.
Robert Bird was re-elected at the next three general elections, but was defeated at the 1929 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1929
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
by 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 William Brown. Bird regained the seat in 1931
United Kingdom general election, 1931
The United Kingdom general election on Tuesday 27 October 1931 was the last in the United Kingdom not held on a Thursday. It was also the last election, and the only one under universal suffrage, where one party received an absolute majority of the votes cast.The 1931 general election was the...
, and held it until he stood down at the 1945 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
.
Bird had succeeded to his father's baronetcy, and also succeeded him as chairman of the family's business Alfred Bird and Sons
Bird's Custard
Bird's Custard is the original version of what is known generically as custard powder. It is a cornflour -based powder which thickens to form a custard-like sauce when mixed with milk and heated to a sufficient temperature...
, manufacturing chemists. The company had been established by his grandfather Alfred Bird
Alfred Bird
Alfred Bird was a British food manufacturer and chemist. He was born in Nympsfield, Gloucestershire, England in 1811 was the inventor of a series of food products mostly now taken for granted...
, who invented both baking powder
Baking powder
Baking powder is a dry chemical leavening agent used to increase the volume and lighten the texture of baked goods such as muffins, cakes, scones and American-style biscuits. Baking powder works by releasing carbon dioxide gas into a batter or dough through an acid-base reaction, causing bubbles in...
and custard powder.
He was invested as a Chevalier in the French Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
in 1947 and as an Officer of the Order of Leopold (Belgium) (in recognition of services
rendered to Belgian interests during the war) in 1951. In the New Year Honours list in 1954, he was made a Knight Commander 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...
(KBE), "for political and public services".