Godfrey Nicholson

Sir Godfrey Nicholson, 1st Baronet (9 December 1901 – 14 July 1991)[1] was a British Conservative Party Member of Parliament (MP).

Early life and education

A member of the family which founded London-based gin distillers J&W Nicholson & Co, Nicholson was a younger son of Richard Francis Harrison and a grandson of politician, William Nicholson. He was educated at Winchester College and graduated from Christ Church, Oxford in 1925.

Political and military career

In 1931, he contested and won Morpeth and held the seat until 1935. Two years later, he contested and won Farnham in a by-election and on the outbreak of World War II in 1939, he served with The Royal Fusiliers until 1942. He was subsequently a captain in the Home Guard and as MP criticized that an issue of pikes to the Home Guard made during a shortage of rifles "if not meant as a joke, was an insult".[2][3]

Personal life

On 20 March 1958, Nicholson was made a baronet[4] and retired from politics in 1966. On 30 June 1936, he had married Lady Katharine Lindsay (a younger daughter of the 27th Earl of Crawford) and they had four daughters:

  • Rose Helen (b. 13 May 1937), married The Lord Luce.
  • Laura Violet (b. 18 January 1939), married Sir John Montgomery-Cuninghame of Corsehill, 12th Baronet.
  • Emma Harriet (b. 16 October 1941), married Sir Michael Harris Caine.
  • Harriet Mary (b. 29 June 1946), married Charles Hugh Flower (a maternal great-great-grandson of the 1st Duke of Abercorn).

Sir Godfrey was a favourite at the London Gliding Club where they appreciated his passing of favourable laws regarding gliding.

As Nicholson had no sons from his marriage, his title became extinct upon his death in 1991.

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References
  1. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "M" (part 2)
  2. Hansard: Army Supplementary Estimate, 1941, House of Commons Debate, 11 March 1942
  3. These weapons became known as "Croft's pikes" after the Under Secretary of War (Lord Croft) who defended their issue.
  4. "No. 41342". The London Gazette. 21 March 1958. p. 1844.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Ebby Edwards		 Member of Parliament for Morpeth
1931–1935		 Succeeded by
Robert Taylor
Preceded by
Sir Arthur Samuel		 Member of Parliament for Farnham
1937–1966		 Succeeded by
Maurice Macmillan
Baronetage of the United Kingdom
New creation Baronet
(of Winterbourne)
1958–1991		 extinct


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