Godfrey Nicholson
Encyclopedia
Sir Godfrey Nicholson, 1st Baronet (9 December 1901 – 14 July 1991) was a British
Conservative Party
Member of Parliament
(MP).
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. In 1931, he contested and won Morpeth
and held the seat until 1935. Two years later, he contested and won Farnham
and on the outbreak of World War II
in 1939, he served with The Royal Fusiliers until 1942.
In 1958, Nicholson was made a baronet
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:
Sir Godfrey was a favorite at the London Gliding Club where they appreciated his passing of favorable laws regarding gliding.
As Nicholson had no sons from his marriage, his title became extinct upon his death in 1991.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
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,...
(MP).
A member of the family which founded London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
-based gin
Gin
Gin is a spirit which derives its predominant flavour from juniper berries . Although several different styles of gin have existed since its origins, it is broadly differentiated into two basic legal categories...
distillers J&W Nicholson & Co
J&W Nicholson & Co
J&W Nicholson & Co was a London-based gin maker. Founded in 1730s during the Gin Craze, the company stopped making gin in England 1941, and closed its premises Three Mills in 1966....
, Nicholson was a younger son of Richard Francis Harrison and a grandson of politician, William Nicholson. He was educated at Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
and graduated from Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
in 1925. In 1931, he contested and won Morpeth
Morpeth (UK Parliament constituency)
Morpeth was a borough constituency centred on the town of Morpeth in Northumberland represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of England until 1707, the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and then the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
and held the seat until 1935. Two years later, he contested and won Farnham
Farnham (UK Parliament constituency)
Farnham was a parliamentary constituency in the county of Surrey, in south east England. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1918, until it was abolished for the 1983 general election...
and on the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1939, he served with The Royal Fusiliers until 1942.
In 1958, Nicholson was made a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
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
David Lindsay, 27th Earl of Crawford
David Alexander Edward Lindsay, 27th Earl of Crawford and 10th Earl of Balcarres KT, PC, DL, FRS, FSA , styled Lord Balniel between 1880 and 1913, was a British Conservative politician and art connoisseur....
) and they had four daughters:
Sir Godfrey was a favorite at the London Gliding Club where they appreciated his passing of favorable laws regarding gliding.
- Rose Helen (b. 13 May 1937), married The Lord LuceRichard Luce, Baron LuceRichard Napier Luce, Baron Luce, was Lord Chamberlain to HM The Queen from 2000 to 2006, and was previously Governor of Gibraltar and a Conservative Member of Parliament and Government Minister.-Early career:...
. - Laura Violet (b. 18 January 1939), married Sir John Montgomery-Cuninghame of Corsehill, 12th Baronet.
- Emma HarrietEmma Nicholson, Baroness Nicholson of WinterbourneEmma Harriet Nicholson, Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne is a British politician. Formerly the Conservative then Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Torridge and West Devon she is a now life peer, and a former Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament for South East England.-Early...
(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 AbercornJames Hamilton, 1st Duke of AbercornJames Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn KG PC , styled Viscount Hamilton from 1814 to 1818 and the Marquess of Abercorn from 1818 to 1868, was a British Conservative politician and statesman who twice served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.In 1860, The Times noted that Hamilton was one of only three to...
).
As Nicholson had no sons from his marriage, his title became extinct upon his death in 1991.