Priscilla Buchan, Baroness Tweedsmuir
Encyclopedia
Priscilla Buchan, Baroness Tweedsmuir and Baroness Tweedsmuir of Belhelvie, PC (25 January 1915 – 11 March 1978) was a Unionist and Conservative politician.
Born as Priscilla Jean Fortescue Thomson, the daughter of Brigadier Alan F. Thomson DSO, she married Major Sir Arthur Lindsay Grant, 11th Baronet
, Grenadier Guards in 1934. He was killed in action in 1944. She subsequently married the author and politician, the 2nd Baron Tweedsmuir
, in 1948.
Lady Tweedsmuir was an unsuccessful parliamentary candidate for Aberdeen North
in July 1945, and was elected for Aberdeen South
in 1946, holding the seat until 1966.
She was a delegate to the Council of Europe
from 1950–1953, a UK Delegate to the General Assembly
of the United Nations
, 1960–1961; Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland
from 1962–1964; Minister of State at the Scottish Office
from 1970–1972 and at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
from 1972–1974. She was appointed a Privy Counsellor
in 1974.
In 1970 she was created a life peer
as Baroness Tweedsmuir of Belhelvie, of Potterton in the County of Aberdeen. In the House of Lords she served as Principal Deputy Chairman of Committees, 1974–1977 and as Chairman of the Select Committee on European Communities, 1974–1977. She was also a Deputy Speaker. She died of cancer in 1978, aged 63.
Born as Priscilla Jean Fortescue Thomson, the daughter of Brigadier Alan F. Thomson DSO, she married Major Sir Arthur Lindsay Grant, 11th Baronet
Grant Baronets
-Grant Baronets, of Dalvey, Elgin :Created 10 August 1688, in the baronetage of Nova Scotia.*Sir James Grant, 1st Baronet, died 1695*Sir Ludovic Grant, 2nd Baronet, died 4 January 1701*Sir Sweton Grant, 3rd Baronet, died 1752...
, Grenadier Guards in 1934. He was killed in action in 1944. She subsequently married the author and politician, the 2nd Baron Tweedsmuir
John Norman Stuart Buchan, 2nd Baron Tweedsmuir
John Norman Stuart Buchan, 2nd Baron Tweedsmuir CBE, CD was a Scottish Peer and the son of John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir. He has been described as a "brilliant fisherman and naturalist, a gallant soldier and fine writer of English, an explorer, colonial administrator and man of business."...
, in 1948.
Lady Tweedsmuir was an unsuccessful parliamentary candidate for Aberdeen North
Aberdeen North (UK Parliament constituency)
Aberdeen North is a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and it elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
in July 1945, and was elected for Aberdeen South
Aberdeen South (UK Parliament constituency)
Aberdeen South is a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and it elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
in 1946, holding the seat until 1966.
She was a delegate to the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
from 1950–1953, a UK Delegate to the General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, 1960–1961; Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland
Under-Secretary of State for Scotland
The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland is a junior ministerial post in the United Kingdom government, supporting the Secretary of State for Scotland...
from 1962–1964; Minister of State at the Scottish Office
Scottish Office
The Scottish Office was a department of the United Kingdom Government from 1885 until 1999, exercising a wide range of government functions in relation to Scotland under the control of the Secretary of State for Scotland...
from 1970–1972 and at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
from 1972–1974. She was appointed a Privy Counsellor
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 1974.
In 1970 she was created a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baroness Tweedsmuir of Belhelvie, of Potterton in the County of Aberdeen. In the House of Lords she served as Principal Deputy Chairman of Committees, 1974–1977 and as Chairman of the Select Committee on European Communities, 1974–1977. She was also a Deputy Speaker. She died of cancer in 1978, aged 63.