John Gretton, 1st Baron Gretton
Encyclopedia
John Gretton, 1st Baron Gretton PC
CBE
(1 September 1867–2 June 1947), was a British
businessman and Conservative
politician. Gretton won two gold medals in the 1900 Olympic Games.
, and was educated at Harrow School
. He was Chairman of Bass, Ratcliff and Gretton Ltd, and also served as a Colonel in the Territorial Army. In 1895 he was elected to the House of Commons as Member of Parliament
(MP) for Derbyshire South, a seat he held until 1906, and then represented Rutland
from 1907 to 1918 and Burton
from 1918 to 1943. Gretton was made a CBE
in 1919 and admitted to the Privy Council
in 1926. In 1944 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Gretton, of Stapleford in the County of Leicester. He was a Deputy Lieutenant of Derbyshire.
Lord Gretton married the Hon. Maud Helen de Moleyns, youngest daughter of Dayrolles Blakeney Eveleigh-de-Moleyns, 4th Baron Ventry, in 1900. He died in June 1947 in Melton Mowbray
, aged 79, and was succeeded in the barony by his son John
.
A noted yachtsman, Gretton won two gold medals in the 1900 Olympic Games. He is unique in achieving this whilst serving as a member of the House of Commons.
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...
CBE
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...
(1 September 1867–2 June 1947), 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...
businessman and Conservative
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...
politician. Gretton won two gold medals in the 1900 Olympic Games.
Biography
Gretton was the eldest son of John Gretton of Burton upon TrentBurton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent, also known as Burton-on-Trent or simply Burton, is a town straddling the River Trent in the east of Staffordshire, England. Its associated adjective is "Burtonian"....
, and was educated at Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
. He was Chairman of Bass, Ratcliff and Gretton Ltd, and also served as a Colonel in the Territorial Army. In 1895 he was elected to the House of Commons as 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) for Derbyshire South, a seat he held until 1906, and then represented Rutland
Rutland (UK Parliament constituency)
Rutland was a parliamentary constituency covering the county of Rutland. It was represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1918, when it became part of the Rutland and Stamford constituency, along with Stamford in Lincolnshire...
from 1907 to 1918 and Burton
Burton (UK Parliament constituency)
Burton is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
from 1918 to 1943. Gretton was made a CBE
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...
in 1919 and admitted to the Privy Council
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 1926. In 1944 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Gretton, of Stapleford in the County of Leicester. He was a Deputy Lieutenant of Derbyshire.
Lord Gretton married the Hon. Maud Helen de Moleyns, youngest daughter of Dayrolles Blakeney Eveleigh-de-Moleyns, 4th Baron Ventry, in 1900. He died in June 1947 in Melton Mowbray
Melton Mowbray
Melton Mowbray is a town in the Melton borough of Leicestershire, England. It is to the northeast of Leicester, and southeast of Nottingham...
, aged 79, and was succeeded in the barony by his son John
John Gretton, 2nd Baron Gretton
John Frederic Gretton, 2nd Baron Gretton OBE , was a British peer and Conservative Member of Parliament.Gretton was the son of John Gretton, 1st Baron Gretton, and Hon. Maud Helen de Moleyns. He was elected to the House of Commons for Burton in 1943 , a seat he held until 1945...
.
A noted yachtsman, Gretton won two gold medals in the 1900 Olympic Games. He is unique in achieving this whilst serving as a member of the House of Commons.