Andrew Bonar Law
Andrew Bonar Law (1858–1923), businessman and prime minister
1858 born in Kingston, New Brunswick, Canada.
1870 Bonar Law left Canada for Glasgow, with the prospect of wealthy relatives providing for his education and launching him on a career in the family banking business.
1874 he was offered a position in the Kidstons' banking business.
1885 the Kidstons firm merged with the Clydesdale Bank. Bonar Law was offered a partnership in a company that had close connections with Kidstons, the iron merchants William Jacks and Co with funds from the Kidstons.
He expanded the business, opening new branches in Middlesbrough in 1888 and in London in 1894.
1900 Won the Blackfriars and Hutchesontown division of Glasgow for the Conservatives
1903 Committed himself to tariff reform in a climate where many of Britain's main rivals were adopting protectionist policies
1906 lost his seat in the Liberal landslide of January 1906 but was soon offered a safe seat in the Camberwell (Dulwich) constituency
1910 Gave up Dulwich to fight a Lancashire constituency as a leading tariff reformer to test the case in the key area of Lancashire but lost.
1911 Returned as MP for Bootle and later that year elected as leader of the Conservatives
1915 Invited to became colonial secretary under Asquith in the coalition government
1916 Lloyd George formed a government with senior posts dominated by Conservatives - Bonar Law was chancellor of the exchequer, leader of the House of Commons, and effectively deputy premier.
1918 At the general election, Bonar Law returned to Glasgow, where he was elected for the Central division.
1923 Appointed prime minister but his health deteriorated and he resigned the office, and died before the end of the year.
See Also
Sources of Information
- Biography of Andrew Bonar Law, ODNB