Herbert Dixon, 1st Baron Glentoran

Herbert Dixon, 1st Baron Glentoran, OBE, PC (NI), DL (23 January 1880 – 20 July 1950)[1] was a Unionist politician from Ireland, present-day Northern Ireland.

The Lord Glentoran
Member of Parliament
for Belfast East
In office
15 November 1922 – 8 July 1939
Preceded byRobert Sharman-Crawford
Succeeded byHenry Peirson Harland
Personal details
Born(1880-01-23)23 January 1880
Belfast, Ireland
Died20 June 1950(1950-06-20) (aged 61)
Belfast, Northern Ireland
NationalityBritish
Political partyUlster Unionist Party
SpouseEmily Bingham
Alma materRMC, Sandhurst
ProfessionSoldier, politician

Early life

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Dixon was born in Belfast, the fourth son of Sir Daniel Dixon, 1st Baronet, and Annie Shaw. He was educated at Rugby School and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, before being commissioned into the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers as a second lieutenant on 20 January 1900. He was promoted to lieutenant on 14 May 1901, and served with the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons in the Second Boer War in South Africa in 1902.[2] After the war he returned home in September 1902,[3] and was posted at Curragh Camp. He later fought with the British Army in the First World War.

Political career

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In 1918 Dixon was elected Unionist Member of Parliament for the seat of Belfast Pottinger, becoming representative for Belfast East four years later. He was also sent to the Northern Ireland House of Commons in 1921 as a member for Belfast East, being appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, and was finally elected member for the seat of Belfast Bloomfield in 1929.

Dixon was appointed OBE in 1919 and admitted to the Privy Council of Northern Ireland in 1923. In 1939 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Glentoran, of Ballyalloly in the County of Down. He served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Finance and Government Chief Whip from 1921 to 1942 and as Minister of Agriculture in the Parliament of Northern Ireland from 1941 to 1943. In May 1950 he succeeded his elder brother Sir Thomas Dixon as third baronet.

Marriage and children

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On 25 November 1905 Lord Glentoran married the Hon Emily Ina Florence Bingham, daughter of John Bingham, 5th Baron Clanmorris. They had five children together:

Lord Glentoran died in July 1950, aged 70, and was succeeded in his titles by his son Daniel. Lady Glentoran died in 1957.

Arms

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Coat of arms of Herbert Dixon, 1st Baron Glentoran
 
Crest
A demi-lion rampant Azure, charged on the shoulder with a cross patonce surrounded by a civic crown Or.
Escutcheon
Or on a chevron Vair three billets of the first on a chief crenellé Gules a tower proper between two fleurs-de-lis Or.
Supporters
Two war horses Argent unglued Or caparisoned Proper the shabraque Sable broidered of the second.
Motto
Fide Et Constantia (By Fidelity And Constancy)[4]

Notes

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  1. ^ "Political Biography of Herbert Dixon (23 January 1880 – 20 July 1950)". Arts and Humanities Data Service. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  2. ^ Hart's Army list, 1903
  3. ^ "The Army in South Africa - Troops returning Home". The Times. No. 36874. London. 16 September 1902. p. 6.
  4. ^ Debrett's Peerage & Baronetage. 2000.

References

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See also

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Parliament of the United Kingdom
New constituency Member of Parliament for Belfast Pottinger
19181922
Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament for Belfast East
19221939
Succeeded by
Parliament of Northern Ireland
New parliament Member of Parliament for Belfast East
1921–1929
With: Dawson Bates 1921–1929
Thompson Donald 1921–1925
James Augustine Duff 1921–1925
Jack Beattie 1925–1929
James Woods Gyle 1925–1929
Parliament abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament for Belfast Bloomfield
1929–1950
Succeeded by
Political offices
New office Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Finance
1921–1942
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Agriculture
1941–1943
Succeeded by
Party political offices
New office Unionist Chief Whip
1921–1942
Succeeded by
Peerage of the United Kingdom
New title Baron Glentoran
1939–1950
Succeeded by
Baronetage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Baronet
(of Ballymenock)
1950
Succeeded by