William Spens, 2nd Baron Spens
Encyclopedia
William George Michael Spens, 2nd Baron Spens, QC
(18 September 1914 – 23 November 1984) was a British peer
.
Spens was the eldest son of Patrick Spens, 1st Baron Spens
and his first wife, Hilda. He served with the 97th (Kent Yeomanry) Field Brigade, was promoted to Second Lieutenant
in 1936 and transferred to the Royal Artillery
in 1938. On 30 June 1941, Spens married Joan Goodall (died 1994) and they had three children:
In the Birthday Honours List of 1954, Spens, as a Temporary Senior Executive Officer of the Control Commission for Germany, was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire
(MBE). The appointment was subsequently revoked in 1975, following his sentencing
a year earlier, to two years in jail
for stealing money from the Federation of British Carpet Manufacturers, a company he founded and of which he was a director.
On the death of Spens' father in 1973, he inherited the barony of Spens
and on his own death in 1984, the title passed to his eldest son, Patrick.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(18 September 1914 – 23 November 1984) was a British peer
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
.
Spens was the eldest son of Patrick Spens, 1st Baron Spens
Patrick Spens, 1st Baron Spens
William Patrick Spens, 1st Baron Spens KBE, PC, KC , was a British lawyer, judge and Conservative politician. He served as Chief Justice of India from 1943 to 1947....
and his first wife, Hilda. He served with the 97th (Kent Yeomanry) Field Brigade, was promoted to Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in 1936 and transferred to the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
in 1938. On 30 June 1941, Spens married Joan Goodall (died 1994) and they had three children:
- Patrick Michael Rex (1942–2001)
- William David Ralph (born 1943)
- Mallowry Ann (born 1949)
In the Birthday Honours List of 1954, Spens, as a Temporary Senior Executive Officer of the Control Commission for Germany, was appointed a Member 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...
(MBE). The appointment was subsequently revoked in 1975, following his sentencing
Sentence (law)
In law, a sentence forms the final explicit act of a judge-ruled process, and also the symbolic principal act connected to his function. The sentence can generally involve a decree of imprisonment, a fine and/or other punishments against a defendant convicted of a crime...
a year earlier, to two years in jail
Jail
A jail is a short-term detention facility in the United States and Canada.Jail may also refer to:In entertainment:*Jail , a 1966 Malayalam movie*Jail , a 2009 Bollywood movie...
for stealing money from the Federation of British Carpet Manufacturers, a company he founded and of which he was a director.
On the death of Spens' father in 1973, he inherited the barony of Spens
Baron Spens
Baron Spens, of Blairsanquhar in the County of Fife, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1959 for the lawyer and Conservative politician Sir Patrick Spens...
and on his own death in 1984, the title passed to his eldest son, Patrick.