Nathaniel Micklem
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel Micklem was a British Liberal Party
politician and lawyer.
, a village in Berkshire
, the son of a solicitor
. He was educated at Mill Hill School
and New College, Oxford
where he took a first in Jurisprudence
in 1877. In 1880 Micklem was the only student gaining a first in British Civil Law. While at Oxford he was president of the Union
in 1878 and rowed or coxed for New College for two years. He also studied at University College, London gaining BA and LL.B (Exhibition) degrees before being elected a Fellow there in 1881.
at Lincoln’s Inn. He obtained a large junior practice and took silk in 1900 becoming Queen’s Counsel as Victoria
was still on the throne. He was one of only two men to be Queen’s Counsel in two reigns as he was still living at the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II in 1952. He maintained his law practice until 1924 when he retired. He was a Bencher
of Lincoln’s Inn and acted as Treasurer there in 1930. He was also a member of the Bar Council
.
, also known as Hertfordshire West, at the Liberal landslide election of 1906
, the first time a non-Conservative had ever held the seat. At the previous general election in 1900
the Conservative candidate, Frederick Halsey
had been unopposed but Micklem defeated Halsey by 7613 votes to 6136, a majority of 1476. However the Unionists regained the seat at the January 1910 general election winning by a majority of 1551. At this election the Unionists had dubbed Micklem a “Radical-Socialist” and despite Micklem claiming to be proud of the description it is likely it hurt him, especially in the strongly Unionist agricultural parts of the division. Micklem stood again at the December 1910 general election reducing the Tory majority but not sufficiently to re-take the seat.
From 1924 he was a member of the Royal Commission
on Lunacy and Mental Disorder and succeeded Hugh Macmillan, Baron Macmillan
as chairman in 1930. The Macmillan Commission established the framework for the Mental Treatment Act of 1930 and eventually led the way to the passing of the Mental Health Act, 1959 and later Mental Health Acts. He was a governor of his old school, Mill Hill
for over fifty years, and was sometime chairman of the board of governors. A portrait of Micklem by George Harcourt RA
was unveiled at the school on Foundation Day in 1932.
. The eldest - also named Nathaniel - went on to be a Professor of Theology and Principal of Mansfield College, Oxford
as well as president of the Liberal Party in 1957-58. The Micklems were an old Nonconformist family and Micklem was a lifelong Congregationalist. In 1925 he published a book of religious papers and addresses together with his friend Arnold Thomas, who had been Chairman of the Congregational Union in 1899. His funeral service on 25 March 1954 was conducted by his grandson, the Reverend T C Micklem.
In 1946 Micklem had given evidence against the building of the new town
of Hemel Hempstead
, calling the idea a desecration. His home at Northridge House had to be demolished to make way for the new town development of Warners End (see Warner's End
). Because of his long connection with the area however a local school, Micklem Primary School in Warners End, was named after him. It was opened in 1958 by his son Nathaniel.
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...
politician and lawyer.
Early life and education
Nathaniel Micklem was born at CookhamCookham
Cookham is a village and civil parish in the north-easternmost corner of Berkshire in England, on the River Thames, notable as the home of the artist Stanley Spencer. It lies north of Maidenhead close to the border with Buckinghamshire...
, a village in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, the son of a solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
. He was educated at Mill Hill School
Mill Hill School
Mill Hill School, in Mill Hill, London, is a coeducational independent school for boarding and day pupils aged 13–18. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, an organisation of public schools in the United Kingdom....
and New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
where he took a first in Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence is the theory and philosophy of law. Scholars of jurisprudence, or legal theorists , hope to obtain a deeper understanding of the nature of law, of legal reasoning, legal systems and of legal institutions...
in 1877. In 1880 Micklem was the only student gaining a first in British Civil Law. While at Oxford he was president of the Union
Oxford Union
The Oxford Union Society, commonly referred to simply as the Oxford Union, is a debating society in the city of Oxford, Britain, whose membership is drawn primarily but not exclusively from the University of Oxford...
in 1878 and rowed or coxed for New College for two years. He also studied at University College, London gaining BA and LL.B (Exhibition) degrees before being elected a Fellow there in 1881.
Law career
Also in 1881, Micklem was called to the BarBar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
at Lincoln’s Inn. He obtained a large junior practice and took silk in 1900 becoming Queen’s Counsel as Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
was still on the throne. He was one of only two men to be Queen’s Counsel in two reigns as he was still living at the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II in 1952. He maintained his law practice until 1924 when he retired. He was a Bencher
Bencher
A bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher can be elected while still a barrister , in recognition of the contribution that the barrister has made to the life of the Inn or to the law...
of Lincoln’s Inn and acted as Treasurer there in 1930. He was also a member of the Bar Council
Bar council
A bar council , in a Commonwealth country and in the Republic of Ireland, the Bar Council of Ireland is a professional body that regulates the profession of barristers together with the King's Inns. Solicitors are generally regulated by the Law society....
.
Politics
Micklem was elected Member of Parliament for WatfordWatford (UK Parliament constituency)
Watford 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...
, also known as Hertfordshire West, at the Liberal landslide election of 1906
United Kingdom general election, 1906
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1906*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
, the first time a non-Conservative had ever held the seat. At the previous general election in 1900
United Kingdom general election, 1900
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1900*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-External links:***-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
the Conservative candidate, Frederick Halsey
Frederick Halsey
Sir Thomas Frederick Halsey, 1st Baronet PC was an English Conservative Party politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1874 to 1906....
had been unopposed but Micklem defeated Halsey by 7613 votes to 6136, a majority of 1476. However the Unionists regained the seat at the January 1910 general election winning by a majority of 1551. At this election the Unionists had dubbed Micklem a “Radical-Socialist” and despite Micklem claiming to be proud of the description it is likely it hurt him, especially in the strongly Unionist agricultural parts of the division. Micklem stood again at the December 1910 general election reducing the Tory majority but not sufficiently to re-take the seat.
From 1924 he was a member of the Royal Commission
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
on Lunacy and Mental Disorder and succeeded Hugh Macmillan, Baron Macmillan
Hugh Macmillan, Baron Macmillan
Hugh Pattison Macmillan, Baron Macmillan GCVO PC was a Scottish judge.The son of the Revd Hugh Macmillan, he was educated at Collegiate School, Greenock, at the University of Edinburgh and the University of Glasgow...
as chairman in 1930. The Macmillan Commission established the framework for the Mental Treatment Act of 1930 and eventually led the way to the passing of the Mental Health Act, 1959 and later Mental Health Acts. He was a governor of his old school, Mill Hill
Mill Hill School
Mill Hill School, in Mill Hill, London, is a coeducational independent school for boarding and day pupils aged 13–18. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, an organisation of public schools in the United Kingdom....
for over fifty years, and was sometime chairman of the board of governors. A portrait of Micklem by George Harcourt RA
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
was unveiled at the school on Foundation Day in 1932.
Family and religion
In 1885 Micklem married Ellen Ruth Curwen. His wife died in 1952. They had four sons, three of whom followed him to New College, OxfordNew College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
. The eldest - also named Nathaniel - went on to be a Professor of Theology and Principal of Mansfield College, Oxford
Mansfield College, Oxford
Mansfield College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Of the colleges that accept both undergraduate and graduate students Mansfield College is one of the smallest, comprising approximately 210 undergraduates, 130 graduates, 35 visiting students and 50...
as well as president of the Liberal Party in 1957-58. The Micklems were an old Nonconformist family and Micklem was a lifelong Congregationalist. In 1925 he published a book of religious papers and addresses together with his friend Arnold Thomas, who had been Chairman of the Congregational Union in 1899. His funeral service on 25 March 1954 was conducted by his grandson, the Reverend T C Micklem.
In 1946 Micklem had given evidence against the building of the new town
New towns in the United Kingdom
Below is a list of some of the new towns in the United Kingdom created under the various New Town Acts of the 20th century. Some earlier towns were developed as Garden Cities or overspill estates early in the twentieth century. The New Towns proper were planned to disperse population following the...
of Hemel Hempstead
Hemel Hempstead
Hemel Hempstead is a town in Hertfordshire in the East of England, to the north west of London and part of the Greater London Urban Area. The population at the 2001 Census was 81,143 ....
, calling the idea a desecration. His home at Northridge House had to be demolished to make way for the new town development of Warners End (see Warner's End
Warner's End
Warners End is a neighbourhood or district of Hemel Hempstead, a new town in Hertfordshire, England. It was the fourth of the new districts built during the expansion of Hemel Hempstead into a new town with work on its construction commencing in 1953....
). Because of his long connection with the area however a local school, Micklem Primary School in Warners End, was named after him. It was opened in 1958 by his son Nathaniel.