Ralph Etherton
Encyclopedia
Ralph Humphrey Etherton was a British
barrister
and Conservative
politician.
He was the son of Captain Louis Etherton. He was educated at the University of Cambridge
, and was called to the Bar in 1926.
He became involved in Conservative politics, failing to win a parliamentary seat at Everton
, Liverpool in 1935
. In 1937 he unsuccessfully stood for election to the London County Council
as a Municipal Reform Party
candidate. In 1939 an election was caused by the death of the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Stretford
, with Etherton being elected to the seat.
Etherton joined the Royal Air Force
, rising from the rank of Pilot Officer to Flight Lieutenant. On 15 December 1944, he married Johanne Cloherty in the crypt chapel of the House of Commons. He met his future wife while she was Charles de Gaulle
's diplomatic driver.
He lost his parliamentary seat at the 1945 general election
. He retired from active politics and pursued a career in business. He died in December 1987, aged 82.
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...
barrister
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 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.
He was the son of Captain Louis Etherton. He was educated at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, and was called to the Bar in 1926.
He became involved in Conservative politics, failing to win a parliamentary seat at Everton
Liverpool Everton (UK Parliament constituency)
Liverpool Everton was a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-History:...
, Liverpool in 1935
United Kingdom general election, 1935
The United Kingdom general election held on 14 November 1935 resulted in a large, though reduced, majority for the National Government now led by Conservative Stanley Baldwin. The greatest number of MPs, as before, were Conservative, while the National Liberal vote held steady...
. In 1937 he unsuccessfully stood for election to the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
as a Municipal Reform Party
Municipal Reform Party
The Municipal Reform Party was a local party allied to the parliamentary Conservative Party in the County of London. The party contested elections to both the London County Council and metropolitan borough councils of the county from 1906 to 1945.-Formation:...
candidate. In 1939 an election was caused by the death of the 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 Stretford
Stretford (UK Parliament constituency)
Stretford was a parliamentary constituency in North West England, which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
, with Etherton being elected to the seat.
Etherton joined the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, rising from the rank of Pilot Officer to Flight Lieutenant. On 15 December 1944, he married Johanne Cloherty in the crypt chapel of the House of Commons. He met his future wife while she was Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
's diplomatic driver.
He lost his parliamentary seat at the 1945 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
. He retired from active politics and pursued a career in business. He died in December 1987, aged 82.