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Ralph Beaumont

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For the English-born American labor unionist, see Ralph Beaumont (unionist).

Ralph Edward Blackett Beaumont CBE, TD, DL, JP (12 February 1901 – 18 September 1977),[1] styled The Honourable from 1907, was a British soldier and Conservative Party politician.

Background and education

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Born at Belgrave Square in London, he was the second son of Wentworth Beaumont, 1st Viscount Allendale and his wife Lady Alexandrina Louise Maud Vane-Tempest, daughter of George Vane-Tempest, 5th Marquess of Londonderry.[2] His older brother was Wentworth Beaumont, 2nd Viscount Allendale.[2] Beaumont was educated at Eton College and went then to Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1923 and with a Master of Arts in 1953.

Military career

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He joined the British Army and was promoted to a second lieutenant of the Royal Welch Fusiliers in 1931.[3] Beaumont became lieutenant in 1934[4] and captain with the begin of the Second World War in 1939.[5] He was finally advanced to lieutenant-colonel in 1947.[6]

Beaumont received the Territorial Decoration in 1948[7] and an additional clasp two years later.[8] Having reached the age limit in 1956, he left the Army.[9]

Political career

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He stood unsuccessfully for Cannock in 1929.[10] Beaumont entered the British House of Commons in 1931, sitting as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Portsmouth Central until the war's end in 1945.[11] During this time he was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Postmaster-General in 1935, a post he held until 1940, and to the Secretary of State for War in 1942 until his defeat in the general election three years later.[12] From 1952, he worked as a Development Commissioner.[13]

Beaumont was nominated High Sheriff of Montgomeryshire in 1957, representing the county also as justice of the peace.[13] He was chairman of the Montgomeryshire County Agriculture Executive Committee and served as a member of the Council on Tribunals from 1958.[13] Having been previously a deputy lieutenant, he became Vice Lord Lieutenant of Montgomeryshire in 1962 until his death in 1977.[10] Beaumont was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year's Honours 1967.[14]

Family

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On 22 March 1926, he married Helena Mary Christine Wray, younger daughter of Brigadier Cecil Wray, at St George's, Hanover Square, and had by her three children.[15] Beaumont's wife died in 1962 and he survived her until 1977; he was buried at St Peter's Church, Machynlleth.[10] His older son was the Rhodesian politician John Ralph Beaumont.[15]

References

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  1. ^ "Hansard, Hon. Ralph Beaumont". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  2. ^ a b Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles (1929). Armorial Families. Vol. I. London: Hurst & Blackett. p. 122.
  3. ^ "No. 33742". The London Gazette. 7 August 1931. p. 5180.
  4. ^ "No. 34073". The London Gazette. 27 July 1934. p. 4815.
  5. ^ "No. 34653". The London Gazette. 11 August 1939. p. 5547.
  6. ^ "No. 38725". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 September 1949. p. 446.
  7. ^ "No. 38256". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 April 1948. p. 2257.
  8. ^ "No. 38842". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 February 1950. p. 847.
  9. ^ "No. 40729". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 March 1956. p. 1503.
  10. ^ a b c "Welsh Biography Online – BEAUMONT, Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. RALPH EDWARD BLACKETT". Retrieved 4 November 2009.
  11. ^ "Leigh Rayment – British House of Commons, Portsmouth Central". Archived from the original on 10 August 2009. Retrieved 4 November 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  12. ^ Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
  13. ^ a b c Who Is Who 1963. London: Adam & Charles Black. 1963. p. 247.
  14. ^ "No. 44210". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1966. p. 10.
  15. ^ a b "ThePeerage – Hon. Ralph Edward Blackett Beaumont". Retrieved 21 December 2006.
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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Portsmouth Central
1931 – 1945 		Succeeded by
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