Tom Gibson (politician)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Hill Gibson was a Scottish nationalist political activist.
Born in Glasgow
, Gibson became a supporter of home rule
for Scotland
through his membership of the Young Scots' Society, an affiliate of the Liberal Party
. He fought in World War I
, and on his return, joined the Scottish Home Rule Association. He left the group in 1924 in opposition to its support of John Maclean, and instead joined the Scots National League
. He quickly became the group's leading figure, and ensure that it became the core of the National Party of Scotland
, which he founded in 1928.
Gibson moved to London in 1932, where he became secretary of the British Steel Federation and financial director of the British Iron and Steel Corporation. In his absence, the National Party began splitting between supporters of independence and those who favoured devolution. Against his wishes, the devolutionists organised a merger with the Scottish Party
, founding the Scottish National Party
(SNP). Gibson became increasingly involved in the civil service
, and was out of Scottish nationalist politics until after World War II
. He rejoined the SNP in the late 1940s, working with Robert McIntyre
and Arthur Donaldson
, and was party president from around 1950 until 1958, remaining active into the 1960s.
Born in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Gibson became a supporter of home rule
Home rule
Home rule is the power of a constituent part of a state to exercise such of the state's powers of governance within its own administrative area that have been devolved to it by the central government....
for Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
through his membership of the Young Scots' Society, an affiliate of the Liberal Party
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...
. He fought in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and on his return, joined the Scottish Home Rule Association. He left the group in 1924 in opposition to its support of John Maclean, and instead joined the Scots National League
Scots National League
The Scots National League were a body seeking Scottish independence in the early 1920s. They were formed in 1921 largely at the efforts of Ruairidh Erskine of Mar and William Gillies....
. He quickly became the group's leading figure, and ensure that it became the core of the National Party of Scotland
National Party of Scotland
The National Party of Scotland was a political party in Scotland and a forerunner of the current Scottish National Party.The NPS was formed in 1928 after John MacCormick of the Glasgow University Scottish Nationalist Association called a meeting of all those favouring the establishment of a party...
, which he founded in 1928.
Gibson moved to London in 1932, where he became secretary of the British Steel Federation and financial director of the British Iron and Steel Corporation. In his absence, the National Party began splitting between supporters of independence and those who favoured devolution. Against his wishes, the devolutionists organised a merger with the Scottish Party
Scottish Party
The Scottish Party was formed in 1930 by a group of members of the Unionist Party who favoured the establishment of a Dominion Scottish Parliament within the British Empire and Commonwealth...
, founding the Scottish National Party
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
(SNP). Gibson became increasingly involved in the civil service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
, and was out of Scottish nationalist politics until after 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 rejoined the SNP in the late 1940s, working with Robert McIntyre
Robert McIntyre
Dr Robert Douglas McIntyre was the Leader of the Scottish National Party from 1947–1956 and a doctor by profession...
and Arthur Donaldson
Arthur Donaldson
Arthur Donaldson was a Scottish politician, and leader of the Scottish National Party from 1960 to 1969.-Early years:...
, and was party president from around 1950 until 1958, remaining active into the 1960s.