Difference between revisions of "Joseph Grimond"

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|wikiquote=https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jo_Grimond
 
|wikiquote=https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jo_Grimond
 
|image=Joseph Grimond.jpg
 
|image=Joseph Grimond.jpg
|description=Attended the [[1958 Bilderberg]] as leader of the UK Liberal Party
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|description=Attended the [[1958 Bilderberg]] as leader of the UK Liberal Party. Early proponent of Britain joining the [[EEC]].
 
|nationality=British
 
|nationality=British
 
|birth_date=29 July 1913
 
|birth_date=29 July 1913
 
|birth_place=St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, UK
 
|birth_place=St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, UK
|death_date=1993-10-24
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|death_date=24 October 1993
|death_place=Glasgow, Scotland, UK
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|death_place=Kirkwall, Scotland, UK
 
|constitutes=politician
 
|constitutes=politician
|alma_mater=Oxford University/Balliol College
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|parents=Joseph Bowman Grimond
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|alma_mater=Eton,Oxford University/Balliol College
 
|birth_name=Joseph Grimond
 
|birth_name=Joseph Grimond
|political_parties=(1), Liberal Party, (2), Liberal Democrats
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|political_parties=UK/Liberal Party, Liberal Democrats
 
|employment={{job
 
|employment={{job
 
|title=Leader of the Liberal Party
 
|title=Leader of the Liberal Party
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|end=9 June 1983
 
|end=9 June 1983
 
}}
 
}}
}}
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}}'''Joseph "Jo" Grimond, Baron Grimond''' was a British politician.<ref>https://www.markpack.org.uk/161656/jo-grimond-podcast/</ref> An early proponent of Britain joining the [[EEC]]<ref>https://liberalhistory.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/80_Autumn_2013.pdf</ref>, he attended the [[1958 Bilderberg meeting]].
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==Background==
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He was the son of Helen Lydia Grimond (nee Richardson) and the [[jute]] manufacturer Joseph Bowman Grimond. His father died in [[1928]].
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==Education==
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Grimond studied at [[Eton]] and at [[Balliol College, Oxford]], thanks to a Brackenbury scholarship. His subjects were law, political science, economics and philosophy. [[Robert Birley]] was one of his teachers. He graduated as a barrister in [[1935]], was admitted to the bar in [[1937]].<ref name=lib>https://web.archive.org/web/20130722184621/http://www.liberalhistory.org.uk/item_single.php?item_id=9&item=biography</ref>
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==Career==
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He served in [[World War II]], ending up as a major on the General Staff. In [[1947]] he was head of personnel for the European headquarters of [[United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration]]. In [[1948]] he became secretary of the [[National Trust for Scotland]]. In [[1967]] he became director of ''[[the Guardian]]''.<ref name=lib/>
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After an initial electoral defeat in [[1945]], he was elected to parliament consistently from 1950 to 1992 for the constituency of [[Orkney]] and [[Shetland]]. He was the [[UK/Liberal Party|Liberal Party]]'s whip from 1951 to 1957, and its chairman from 1956 to 1967, the latter succeeding [[Clement Davies]]. He advocated Britain's accession to the [[EEC]], criticized the Allied [[Suez intervention]] and opposed to the creation of the so-called [[independent nuclear deterrent of Polaris and Trident]], and argued for more state involvement in social and educational affairs. On an interim basis, he took over the party leadership again in 1976, after the resignation of [[Jeremy Thorpe]], until [[David Steel]] took over the office.<ref name=lib/>
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Under Grimond's leadership, the Liberals were able to double the number of their electoral votes in [[1959]]. In the British majority voting law, however, they only brought it to six seats in parliament. there were nine mandates in 1964 and twelve in 1966. Grimond was dissatisfied with the rate of gains, which is why he resigned the post of party leader. He had tried to position the Liberal Party between [[the Conservatives]] and [[Labour]], but experienced the realignment of Labour to the center, which was accompanied by significant gains in votes.<ref name=lib/>
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==Family==
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In 1938, he married Laura Miranda, daughter of [[Violet Bonham-Carter]], who introduced him to the teachings of [[Herbert Henry Asquith]], her grandfather. He had four children. In [[1983]] he was created a Life Peer as '''Baron Grimond, of Firth in the County of Orkney''', and from then on sat in the House of Lords. Grimond died of a stroke at home in 1993.<ref name=lib/>
 
{{SMWDocs}}
 
{{SMWDocs}}
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
{{reflist}}
 
{{reflist}}
{{Stub}}
 

Revision as of 00:18, 19 June 2024

Person.png Joseph Grimond   WikiquoteRdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
(politician)
Joseph Grimond.jpg
BornJoseph Grimond
29 July 1913
St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, UK
Died24 October 1993 (Age 80)
Kirkwall, Scotland, UK
NationalityBritish
Alma materEton, Oxford University/Balliol College
ParentsJoseph Bowman Grimond
Member ofKönigswinter/Speakers
PartyUK/Liberal Party, Liberal Democrats
Attended the 1958 Bilderberg as leader of the UK Liberal Party. Early proponent of Britain joining the EEC.

Employment.png Leader of the Liberal Party

In office
12 May 1976 - 7 July 1976
Succeeded byDavid Steel

Employment.png Leader of the Liberal Party

In office
5 November 1956 - 17 January 1967
Preceded byClement Davies
Succeeded byJeremy Thorpe

Employment.png Member of Parliament for Orkney and Shetland

In office
23 February 1950 - 9 June 1983

Joseph "Jo" Grimond, Baron Grimond was a British politician.[1] An early proponent of Britain joining the EEC[2], he attended the 1958 Bilderberg meeting.

Background

He was the son of Helen Lydia Grimond (nee Richardson) and the jute manufacturer Joseph Bowman Grimond. His father died in 1928.

Education

Grimond studied at Eton and at Balliol College, Oxford, thanks to a Brackenbury scholarship. His subjects were law, political science, economics and philosophy. Robert Birley was one of his teachers. He graduated as a barrister in 1935, was admitted to the bar in 1937.[3]

Career

He served in World War II, ending up as a major on the General Staff. In 1947 he was head of personnel for the European headquarters of United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration. In 1948 he became secretary of the National Trust for Scotland. In 1967 he became director of the Guardian.[3]

After an initial electoral defeat in 1945, he was elected to parliament consistently from 1950 to 1992 for the constituency of Orkney and Shetland. He was the Liberal Party's whip from 1951 to 1957, and its chairman from 1956 to 1967, the latter succeeding Clement Davies. He advocated Britain's accession to the EEC, criticized the Allied Suez intervention and opposed to the creation of the so-called independent nuclear deterrent of Polaris and Trident, and argued for more state involvement in social and educational affairs. On an interim basis, he took over the party leadership again in 1976, after the resignation of Jeremy Thorpe, until David Steel took over the office.[3]

Under Grimond's leadership, the Liberals were able to double the number of their electoral votes in 1959. In the British majority voting law, however, they only brought it to six seats in parliament. there were nine mandates in 1964 and twelve in 1966. Grimond was dissatisfied with the rate of gains, which is why he resigned the post of party leader. He had tried to position the Liberal Party between the Conservatives and Labour, but experienced the realignment of Labour to the center, which was accompanied by significant gains in votes.[3]

Family

In 1938, he married Laura Miranda, daughter of Violet Bonham-Carter, who introduced him to the teachings of Herbert Henry Asquith, her grandfather. He had four children. In 1983 he was created a Life Peer as Baron Grimond, of Firth in the County of Orkney, and from then on sat in the House of Lords. Grimond died of a stroke at home in 1993.[3]

 

Event Participated in

EventStartEndLocation(s)Description
Bilderberg/195813 September 195815 September 1958Buxton
UK
United Kingdom
The 7th Bilderberg and the first one in the UK. 72 guests
Many thanks to our Patrons who cover ~2/3 of our hosting bill. Please join them if you can.


References