Frederick Erroll, 1st Baron Erroll of Hale

Summary

Frederick James Erroll, 1st Baron Erroll of Hale, Baron Erroll of Kilmun, TD, PC (27 May 1914 – 14 September 2000) was a British Conservative politician. He remains the last surviving non-royal hereditary peer of the first creation.

The Lord Erroll of Hale
Frederick Erroll, 1945
Member of the House of Lords
as a hereditary peer
19 December 1964 – 11 November 1999
Preceded byPeerage created
Succeeded bySeat abolished
as a life peer
16 November 1999 – 14 September 2000
President of the Board of Trade
In office
9 October 1961 – 20 October 1963
Prime MinisterHarold Macmillan
Preceded byReginald Maudling
Succeeded byEdward Heath
Member of Parliament
for Altrincham and Sale
In office
5 July 1945 – 19 December 1964
Preceded byNew Constituency
Succeeded byAnthony Barber
Personal details
Born(1914-05-27)27 May 1914
London, England
Died14 September 2000(2000-09-14) (aged 86)
Spouse
Elizabeth Barrow
(m. 1950)

Background and education

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Erroll was the son of George Murison Bergmans, an engineer, and Kathleen, daughter of George Brodrick Edington, a Glasgow ironmaster. The family changed their German surname to Erroll during the First World War. He was educated at Oundle School and at Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating with a bachelor's degree in mechanical sciences.[1]

Early life and Second World War

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Erroll was an engineer at Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Co. Ltd, Manchester, 1936–38. He was commissioned into 4th County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters), Territorial Army in 1939, and held technical appointments in connection with tank construction and testing (advising SEAC, 1940–43) and served in India and Burma, 1944–45. He left the forces in 1945 with the rank of colonel.[1]

Political career

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Erroll was elected as Member of Parliament for Altrincham and Sale in 1945, holding the seat until 1964. He was Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply, 1955–56; Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, 1956–58; Economic Secretary to the Treasury, 1958–59; Minister of State for Trade, 1959–61; President of the Board of Trade, 1961–63; and Minister of Power, 1963–64. In 1964 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Erroll of Hale, of Kilmun in the County of Argyll.[2] In 1972 he was President of the Electric Vehicle Association of Great Britain.[3] In 1999, aged 85, he was awarded a life peerage as Baron Erroll of Kilmun, of Kilmun in Argyll and Bute,[4] to allow him to sit in the House of Lords following the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999, which excluded hereditary peers.[1]

He was a Member of the House of Lords Select committee on Science and Technology, 1985–91. He held a large number of business appointments.[1]

Personal life

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He married Elizabeth Barrow in 1950. Lord Erroll of Hale died in Kensington and Chelsea aged 86. As they had no children, the hereditary barony became extinct on his death.[1]

Coat of arms of Frederick Erroll, 1st Baron Erroll of Hale
 
 
Crest
A chevronel round embattled Sable.
Escutcheon
Per bend Azure and Gules on a bend embellished of six electric flashes Or a fleur-de-lys and two lozenges Sable.
Supporters
Dexter an elephant guardant Sable, sinister a bear reguardant Argent muzzled Azure and from the muzzle a cord Sable ringed or and reflexed over the back.
Motto
It Will Come Out All Right [5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Roth, Andrew (18 September 2000). "Lord Erroll". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  2. ^ "No. 43522". The London Gazette. 22 December 1964. p. 10933.
  3. ^ "The Battery-Electric Transport Future" (PDF). Contact. 24 (9, September 1972): 183–186. 1972.
  4. ^ "No. 55672". The London Gazette. 19 November 1999. p. 12349.
  5. ^ Debrett's Peerage. 1973.
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  • Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Frederick Erroll
Parliament of the United Kingdom
New constituency Member of Parliament for Altrincham and Sale
19451964
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply
1955–1956
Succeeded by
Preceded by Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade
1956–1958
Succeeded by
Vacant Economic Secretary to the Treasury
1958–1959
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of State for Trade
1959–1961
Succeeded by
Preceded by President of the Board of Trade
1961–1963
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Power
1963–1964
Succeeded by
Peerage of the United Kingdom
New creation Baron Erroll of Hale
1964–2000
Extinct