John Adams, 1st Baron Adams
Encyclopedia
John Jackson Adams, 1st Baron Adams OBE
, JP
, MA
(12 October 1890 – 23 August 1960) was a British
politician and public servant. The son of Thomas Adams and Mary Bowness, he was raised to the peerage as Baron Adams on 16 February 1949, the first Cumberland-born man to be so honoured since 1797.
, Cumberland
, John Adams he was educated at Arlecdon Council School, but left at an early age to earn family income; first in farm service, and then in the mines, as his father had been killed in a mining accident when John Adams was only four. In 1910 he emigrated to New Zealand, along with men who later occupied cabinet posts in that country. He returned to West Cumberland in 1914, and plunged into local politics.
Urban District Council from 1919 to 1923. He also became a County Councillor in 1919 and from 1922 was vice-chairman of the County Health Committee, and later chairman, during which time infant mortality in the area dropped by 60%. In 1921 he became general secretary of the Winding Enginemen's Union, based in Workington, and was a member of Workington Borough Council from 1923 to 1931. Before 1934 he was honoured with the office of County Alderman.
The effect of the depression in West Cumberland was so severe that in the 1930s West Cumberland became a "Special Area". Jack Adams was invited to become secretary to the new "Cumberland Development Council". He also became general manager of the West Cumberland Industrial Development Co. Ltd, with the intent of building factories to let, of which the first was at Millom, whilst at Whitehaven the West Cumberland Silk Mills was established. Another great success was the re-opening of the Whitehaven coal mines in 1937, with help from the Nuffield Trust. A particular ingredient in his success was his ability to attract cross-party support, and help from those not normally involved in politics; uniting a common realisation of the terrible effects of over 50% unemployment in West Cumberland.
He held the office of Deputy Regional Controller of the Board of Trade
for Cumberland and Westmorland Sub-region between 1944 and 1948, and on retiring from that post was appointed an OBE
. He had also laid the groundwork of attracting the fledgling Nuclear Industry to West Cumberland, and as a consequence the Royal Ordnance Factory Sellafield became the Windscale, and later the Windscale and Calder Works, of the UKAEA (now known as Sellafield Site). This soaked up the post-war labour released from the Sellafield and Drigg ROFs and from the declining mining and heavy industries of West Cumberland. This is perhaps his most enduring legacy. In 1949 Adams was elevated to the peerage as Baron Adams, of Ennerdale in the County of Cumberland.
He retired in 1959, and died in 1960. He is buried in Arlecdon churchyard. The Adams Recreation Ground at St Bees was created in his memory.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
(12 October 1890 – 23 August 1960) was a British
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...
politician and public servant. The son of Thomas Adams and Mary Bowness, he was raised to the peerage as Baron Adams on 16 February 1949, the first Cumberland-born man to be so honoured since 1797.
Background
Born in 1890 in ArlecdonArlecdon
Arlecdon is a village in the Borough of Copeland in Cumbria, England, near the town of Whitehaven. It has an historic Grade II listed church, first built in 1829, which contains a stained glass window dedicated to Isaac Fletcher of Frizington. In 1904 the church was remodelled, with the addition...
, Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
, John Adams he was educated at Arlecdon Council School, but left at an early age to earn family income; first in farm service, and then in the mines, as his father had been killed in a mining accident when John Adams was only four. In 1910 he emigrated to New Zealand, along with men who later occupied cabinet posts in that country. He returned to West Cumberland in 1914, and plunged into local politics.
Career
In 1919 he led a successful attack on the sitting members of Arlecdon and Frizington District Council. This established the first all-labour council to be elected in England, and he held the office of Chairman of the Arlecdon and FrizingtonArlecdon and Frizington
Arlecdon and Frizington is a civil parish in the Borough of Copeland in Cumbria, England. The parish includes Arlecdon, Frizington, Rowrah and Asby. It has a population of 3,678....
Urban District Council from 1919 to 1923. He also became a County Councillor in 1919 and from 1922 was vice-chairman of the County Health Committee, and later chairman, during which time infant mortality in the area dropped by 60%. In 1921 he became general secretary of the Winding Enginemen's Union, based in Workington, and was a member of Workington Borough Council from 1923 to 1931. Before 1934 he was honoured with the office of County Alderman.
The effect of the depression in West Cumberland was so severe that in the 1930s West Cumberland became a "Special Area". Jack Adams was invited to become secretary to the new "Cumberland Development Council". He also became general manager of the West Cumberland Industrial Development Co. Ltd, with the intent of building factories to let, of which the first was at Millom, whilst at Whitehaven the West Cumberland Silk Mills was established. Another great success was the re-opening of the Whitehaven coal mines in 1937, with help from the Nuffield Trust. A particular ingredient in his success was his ability to attract cross-party support, and help from those not normally involved in politics; uniting a common realisation of the terrible effects of over 50% unemployment in West Cumberland.
He held the office of Deputy Regional Controller of the 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...
for Cumberland and Westmorland Sub-region between 1944 and 1948, and on retiring from that post was appointed an OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
. He had also laid the groundwork of attracting the fledgling Nuclear Industry to West Cumberland, and as a consequence the Royal Ordnance Factory Sellafield became the Windscale, and later the Windscale and Calder Works, of the UKAEA (now known as Sellafield Site). This soaked up the post-war labour released from the Sellafield and Drigg ROFs and from the declining mining and heavy industries of West Cumberland. This is perhaps his most enduring legacy. In 1949 Adams was elevated to the peerage as Baron Adams, of Ennerdale in the County of Cumberland.
He retired in 1959, and died in 1960. He is buried in Arlecdon churchyard. The Adams Recreation Ground at St Bees was created in his memory.