Preceded by Ian Stewart Nationality British Party Conservative Party Succeeded by Chris Grayling Education Eton College | Preceded by Peter Rawlinson Role British Politician Succeeded by Jeremy Hanley Name Archie Baron | |
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Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
John Major Born 30 December 1941 (age 82) ( 1941-12-30 ) Albums Works On Sunday EP, Untold Drama EP, Jaques This, Antithesis EP | ||
Archibald Gavin Hamilton, Baron Hamilton of Epsom, PC (born 30 December 1941) is a British Conservative Party politician.
Contents
Background and education
Hamilton is the second son of the 3rd Baron Hamilton of Dalzell, a Lord-in-Waiting to the Queen. The title was originally granted to Hamilton's great-grandfather, John Hamilton, 1st Baron Hamilton of Dalzell, who was a Liberal politician, and had been inherited by his second son, Gavin Hamilton, 2nd Baron Hamilton of Dalzell, also a Liberal politician, before passing to his nephew, Hamilton's father. His mother, Rosemary Coke, was a daughter of Major Sir John Spencer Coke, son of Thomas Coke, 2nd Earl of Leicester; her maternal grandfather was Harry Lawson, 1st Viscount Burnham. Archi Hamilton is the younger brother of the 4th Baron Hamilton of Dalzell. He was born at Beckington Castle, Beckington, Somerset, which was then his parents' country house. He was educated at Eton College.
Political career
Conservative Councillor in Kensington and Chelsea 1968-71
Twice stood for election in the Labour stronghold of Dagenham in the General Elections held in :- 1974
In a by-election, won the seat for Epsom and Ewell 1978. He held the seat until retirement from Parliament 2001
During his Parliamentary career he served in the following posts:-
Parliamentary Private Sec. (PPS) to the Sec. of State for:-
Energy 1979-81
Transport 1981-82
Asst. Con. Whip 1982-84
Lord Commissioner to HM Treasury 1984-86
Parliamentary Under-Sec. of State MOD 1986-87
PPS to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher 1987-88
Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Armed Forces Minister) 1988-93
Created Privy Councillor 1991
Chair 1922 Committee. 1997-2001
Other highlights:-
Created:- Knight Bachelor 1994
Baron Hamilton of Epsom (Life Baron) 2005
Committees:-
Standards and Privileges Committee (re Ethics of Lords and Commons). 1996
Intelligence and Security Committee. 1994-97
Joint Committee for the National Security Strategy. 2015–present (2016).
Hamilton initially stood, unsuccessfully, for Dagenham in the February and October 1974 elections, but was defeated by Labour's veteran incumbent, John Parker.
He was Knighted in 1994. On 13 May 2005 it was announced that he would be created a life peer, and the peerage was gazetted on 17 June 2005 as Baron Hamilton of Epsom, of West Anstey in the County of Devon.
Personal life
Hamilton is a bridge player. He is a member of the Lords bridge team and the All Party Parliamentary Bridge Group.
m. 1968 Anne Catherine Napier (born 1940), dau. of late Cdr Trevylyan Michael Napier DSC, RN. (1901-30 August 1940) & Poet and author Priscilla Hayter (1908–98) who produced books about Napier ancestors, poetry and an autobiography, "A Late Beginner", still in print. Anne is an accomplished sculptor and painter.
They have three daughters.
2016. He currently sits in the House of Lords and is a trustee of the National Army Museum.