Archibald Williamson, 1st Baron Forres
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Archibald Williamson, 1st Baron Forres PC
(13 September 1860–29 October 1931), known as Sir Archibald Williamson, 1st Baronet, from 1909 to 1922, was a Scottish businessman and politician.
The eldest son of Stephen Williamson
MP, and Annie Guthrie, Williamson was educated at Craigmount School
, Edinburgh and at Edinburgh University. He was Coalition Liberal Member of Parliament
for Elginshire and Nairnshire
from 1906 to 1918 and then for Moray and Nairn
until 1922.
He was Chairman of a number of Home Office
, Board of Trade
and parliamentary committees and was a member of the Mesopotamia Commission of Enquiry
in 1916. Williamson held junior ministerial office as Financial Secretary to the War Office
from 1919 to 1921.
Outside Parliament, he was a director of the Central Argentine Railway
and of several other companies.
He was created a Baronet in 1909 and a Privy Counsellor
in 1918. In 1922 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Forres, of Glenogil in the County of Forfar.
Lord Forres was twice married, first in 1887 to Caroline Maria Hayne (died 1911), and second in 1912 to Hon. Agnes Freda Herschell, daughter of Farrer Herschell, 1st Baron Herschell
. He died in October 1931, aged 71, and was succeeded in his titles by his son Stephen.
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
(13 September 1860–29 October 1931), known as Sir Archibald Williamson, 1st Baronet, from 1909 to 1922, was a Scottish businessman and politician.
The eldest son of Stephen Williamson
Stephen Williamson
Stephen Williamson was a founder of the Liverpool shipping company Balfour Williamson & Co. and a Scottish Liberal Party politician.He was born in Cellardyke, Fife in 1827, the son of Archibald Williamson, a shipowner...
MP, and Annie Guthrie, Williamson was educated at Craigmount School
Craigmount School
For the modern high school see Craigmount High School.Craigmount School was a private school originally for boys, but for most of its history for girls, in Edinburgh. It opened in 1874 and closed in 1966. In its short history, it produced a number of notable alumni.-History:Craigmount was founded...
, Edinburgh and at Edinburgh University. He was Coalition Liberal Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Elginshire and Nairnshire
Elginshire and Nairnshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Elginshire and Nairnshire was a county constituency in Scotland. From 1832 to 1918, it returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first-past-the-post voting system.- Boundaries :...
from 1906 to 1918 and then for Moray and Nairn
Moray and Nairn (UK Parliament constituency)
Moray and Nairn was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1983.It was formed by the amalgamation of the county constituency Elginshire and Nairnshire with the parliamentary burghs of Elgin, previously part of Elgin Burghs, and Nairn and...
until 1922.
He was Chairman of a number of Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
, Board of Trade
Board of Trade
The Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, originating as a committee of inquiry in the 17th century and evolving gradually into a government department with a diverse range of functions...
and parliamentary committees and was a member of the Mesopotamia Commission of Enquiry
Special Commissions (Dardanelles and Mesopotamia) Act 1916
The Special Commissions Act 1916 was set up to investigate the World War I operations in the Dardanelles Campaign and the Mesopotamian campaign....
in 1916. Williamson held junior ministerial office as Financial Secretary to the War Office
Financial Secretary to the War Office
Financial Secretary to the War Office was an office of the British government, the financial secretary of the War Office department.The post was combined with that of Under-Secretary of State for War from 17 April 1947....
from 1919 to 1921.
Outside Parliament, he was a director of the Central Argentine Railway
Central Argentine Railway
The Central Argentine Railway was one of the Big Four broad gauge, , British-owned companies that built and operated railway networks in Argentina...
and of several other companies.
He was created a Baronet in 1909 and a Privy Counsellor
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
in 1918. In 1922 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Forres, of Glenogil in the County of Forfar.
Lord Forres was twice married, first in 1887 to Caroline Maria Hayne (died 1911), and second in 1912 to Hon. Agnes Freda Herschell, daughter of Farrer Herschell, 1st Baron Herschell
Farrer Herschell, 1st Baron Herschell
Farrer Herschell, 1st Baron Herschell GCB, PC, QC was Lord Chancellor of Great Britain in 1886, and again from 1892 to 1895.-Early career:...
. He died in October 1931, aged 71, and was succeeded in his titles by his son Stephen.