Maurice Alexander
Encyclopedia
Maurice Alexander was a Canadian barrister
and soldier
who later moved to England
and had careers in the Diplomatic Service
, English law and politics.
. He was educated at McGill University
in Montreal
where he was a Gold Medallist of the Literary Society. He obtained BA
and BCL
degrees. He does not seem to have ever married.
in 1910 and became a member of the firm of Davidson, Wainwright, Alexander and Elder barristers of Montreal.
In 1911, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant of the Grenadier Guards
, Canada rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel by 1916. He served in the European theatre from 1914-1917 as a member of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. In 1916 he was appointed to the post of Deputy Judge Advocate-General
, and stepped up to the full role in 1917. He was mentioned in despatches and in 1917 he won the CMG
.
In 1918 he entered the service of the Overseas Department of the Foreign Office and acted as First Secretary
at the British Embassy in Washington from 1919–20. He returned to the United Kingdom to practice law and was called to English Bar
at the Middle Temple
in 1920 and was appointed to North Eastern Circuit. In 1922 he was appointed King’s Counsel by the government of Canada.
Alexander also had private business interests. He was a director of the Elkington Co., Ltd, of Birmingham
and London
.
wing of politics but he was somewhat fickle in his party political affiliations. He began his political career as a National Liberal
, i.e. as a member of that wing of the Liberal Party
which supported the Coalition government
of Prime Minister David Lloyd George
. In December 1921 there had been a by-election
in Southwark South East
which had resulted in the capture of the seat from the Coalition Liberals by Labour
. The defeated Liberal candidate, T O Jacobsen, decided not to contest the seat again at the 1922 general election
and Alexander stepped into the breach gaining it back for the Liberals in a straight fight with Labour’s successful by-election
candidate Thomas Ellis Naylor with a majority of 2,280 votes.
followed quickly in 1923. By this time the Lloyd George Coalition Liberals had reunited with the Independent wing of the party led by former Prime Minister H H Asquith. In Southwark South East, Alexander had another straight fight with Naylor, this time standing as a Liberal without prefix or suffix. Although the 1923 general election was a successful one for the reunited Liberals, bringing it 30% of the popular vote and 158 seats, this was almost entirely at the expense of the Conservatives
in rural and suburban seats. The story against Labour in working class and industrial seats was very different. Alexander lost his seat to Naylor by a majority of 1,490 votes.
found itself divided over whether to support it. During the short life of the government the Liberals were badly split on key votes, presenting a picture of disunity and political incoherence to the electorate. At the 1924 general election
Alexander decided to cut his ties with Southwark and stood instead as Liberal candidate in North Norfolk
. This was the seat of Noel Buxton a former Liberal who had defected to Labour. Alexander came a poor third in the contest, losing his deposit
.
apparently reverting to his law practice in London but in 1931
, perhaps influenced by his encounter with Buxton, he surfaced as the Labour candidate in Newcastle upon Tyne East
. However in straight fight with the sitting MP, the Liberal National
Sir Robert Aske
he lost by the wide margin of 10,346 votes.
in opposition to the sitting Labour MP, Alfred Salter
. The intervention of the Second World War meant the general election due to be held by 1940 was postponed and Alexander did not get to contest Bermondsey. It is not clear why he lost faith with the Labour Party or why he should have been drawn to Sir John Simon's Liberal Nationals.
aged 55 years
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
and soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
who later moved to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and had careers in the Diplomatic Service
Diplomatic service
Diplomatic service is the body of diplomats and foreign policy officers maintained by the government of a country to communicate with the governments of other countries. Diplomatic personnel enjoy diplomatic immunity when they are accredited to other countries...
, English law and politics.
Family and education
Maurice Alexander was born into a Jewish family, the son of L G Alexander JPJustice 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...
. He was educated at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
where he was a Gold Medallist of the Literary Society. He obtained BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and BCL
Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law is the name of various degrees in law conferred by English-language universities. Historically, it originated as a postgraduate degree in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, but many universities now offer the BCL as an undergraduate degree...
degrees. He does not seem to have ever married.
Career
Alexander went in for the law. He was called to the bar of QuebecQuebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
in 1910 and became a member of the firm of Davidson, Wainwright, Alexander and Elder barristers of Montreal.
In 1911, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant of the Grenadier Guards
Grenadier Guards
The Grenadier Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army. It is the most senior regiment of the Guards Division and, as such, is the most senior regiment of infantry. It is not, however, the most senior regiment of the Army, this position being attributed to the Life Guards...
, Canada rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel by 1916. He served in the European theatre from 1914-1917 as a member of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. In 1916 he was appointed to the post of Deputy Judge Advocate-General
Judge Advocate General (Canada)
The Office of the Judge Advocate General for the Canadian Forces provides legal advice to commanders at bases and wings, provides lawyers who defend accused persons at courts martial, teaches courses to other CF members or advises a commanding officer in an operational theatre to uphold the ethical...
, and stepped up to the full role in 1917. He was mentioned in despatches and in 1917 he won the CMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
.
In 1918 he entered the service of the Overseas Department of the Foreign Office and acted as First Secretary
Diplomatic rank
Diplomatic rank is the system of professional and social rank used in the world of diplomacy and international relations. Over time it has been formalized on an international basis.-Ranks:...
at the British Embassy in Washington from 1919–20. He returned to the United Kingdom to practice law and was called to English Bar
Barristers in England and Wales
Barristers in England and Wales are one of the two main categories of lawyer in England and Wales, the other being solicitors. -Origin of the profession:The work of senior legal professionals in England and Wales...
at the Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
in 1920 and was appointed to North Eastern Circuit. In 1922 he was appointed King’s Counsel by the government of Canada.
Alexander also had private business interests. He was a director of the Elkington Co., Ltd, of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
and 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...
.
1922
Alexander was clearly on the progressiveLeft-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
wing of politics but he was somewhat fickle in his party political affiliations. He began his political career as a National Liberal
National Liberal Party (UK, 1922)
The National Liberal Party was a liberal political party in the United Kingdom from 1922 to 1923. It was led by David Lloyd George and was, at the time, separate to the original Liberal Party.-History:...
, i.e. as a member of that wing of the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
which supported the Coalition government
Coalition Government 1916-1922
The Coalition Government of David Lloyd George came to power in the United Kingdom in December 1916, replacing the earlier wartime coalition under H.H. Asquith, which had been held responsible for reverses during the Great War. Those Liberals who continued to support Asquith served as the Opposition...
of Prime Minister David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
. In December 1921 there had been a by-election
Southwark South East by-election, 1921
The Southwark South East by-election, 1921 was a parliamentary by-election held on 14 December 1921 for the British House of Commons constituency of Southwark South East, in the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark in London....
in Southwark South East
Southwark South East (UK Parliament constituency)
Southwark South East was a parliamentary constituency in the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark, in South London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
which had resulted in the capture of the seat from the Coalition Liberals by Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
. The defeated Liberal candidate, T O Jacobsen, decided not to contest the seat again at the 1922 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1922
The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John...
and Alexander stepped into the breach gaining it back for the Liberals in a straight fight with Labour’s successful by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
candidate Thomas Ellis Naylor with a majority of 2,280 votes.
1923
The next general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1923
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
followed quickly in 1923. By this time the Lloyd George Coalition Liberals had reunited with the Independent wing of the party led by former Prime Minister H H Asquith. In Southwark South East, Alexander had another straight fight with Naylor, this time standing as a Liberal without prefix or suffix. Although the 1923 general election was a successful one for the reunited Liberals, bringing it 30% of the popular vote and 158 seats, this was almost entirely at the expense of the Conservatives
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...
in rural and suburban seats. The story against Labour in working class and industrial seats was very different. Alexander lost his seat to Naylor by a majority of 1,490 votes.
1924
The 1923 general election brought to power the first Labour government and the Liberal Party in ParliamentParliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
found itself divided over whether to support it. During the short life of the government the Liberals were badly split on key votes, presenting a picture of disunity and political incoherence to the electorate. At the 1924 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1924
- Seats summary :- References :* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* - External links :* * *...
Alexander decided to cut his ties with Southwark and stood instead as Liberal candidate in North Norfolk
North Norfolk (UK Parliament constituency)
North Norfolk is a parliamentary 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....
. This was the seat of Noel Buxton a former Liberal who had defected to Labour. Alexander came a poor third in the contest, losing his deposit
Deposit (politics)
A deposit is a sum of money that a candidate must pay in return for the right to stand for election to certain political offices, particularly seats in legislatures.-United Kingdom:...
.
1929-1931
Alexander did not contest the 1929United Kingdom general election, 1929
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
apparently reverting to his law practice in London but in 1931
United Kingdom general election, 1931
The United Kingdom general election on Tuesday 27 October 1931 was the last in the United Kingdom not held on a Thursday. It was also the last election, and the only one under universal suffrage, where one party received an absolute majority of the votes cast.The 1931 general election was the...
, perhaps influenced by his encounter with Buxton, he surfaced as the Labour candidate in Newcastle upon Tyne East
Newcastle upon Tyne East (UK Parliament constituency)
Newcastle upon Tyne East is a borough 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....
. However in straight fight with the sitting MP, the Liberal National
National Liberal Party (UK, 1931)
The National Liberal Party, known until 1948 as the Liberal National Party, was a liberal political party in the United Kingdom from 1931 to 1968...
Sir Robert Aske
Sir Robert Aske, 1st Baronet
Sir Robert William Aske, 1st Baronet was a barrister and Liberal Party politician in the United Kingdom.-Biography:He was born on 29 December 1872....
he lost by the wide margin of 10,346 votes.
National candidate
Alexander did not contest any further Parliamentary elections but in 1938 it was reported that he was likely to be selected as the candidate of the National Government in the constituency of Bermonsdey WestBermondsey West (UK Parliament constituency)
Bermondsey West was a parliamentary constituency centred on the Bermondsey district of South London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
in opposition to the sitting Labour MP, Alfred Salter
Alfred Salter
Dr Alfred Salter was a British medical practitioner and Labour Party politician.Southwark Council has offered £1000 reward for anyone who recovers the statue stolen on 18 November. -Early life:...
. The intervention of the Second World War meant the general election due to be held by 1940 was postponed and Alexander did not get to contest Bermondsey. It is not clear why he lost faith with the Labour Party or why he should have been drawn to Sir John Simon's Liberal Nationals.
Death
Alexander died suddenly at his flat at Chesterfield House, South Audley Street, WestminsterWestminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
aged 55 years