William Joynson-Hicks
Sir William Joynson-Hicks, 1st Viscount Brentford PC, PC (NI), DL (23 June 1865 – 8 June 1932), popularly known as Jix, an English solicitor and Conservative Party politician
1865 Born in Islington, son of Henry Hicks a meat salesman[1] and his wife Harriet[2]
After leaving school, he was articled to a solicitor between 1881 and 1887, before setting up his own practice in 1888.
Initially he struggled to attract clients, but Henry Hicks became a director of the London General Omnibus Co and through this connection, after a division in the board-room, his son was appointed solicitor to the company[3]. This also led him to becoming an early authority on transport law, particularly motoring law.
1894 while on holiday he met Grace Joynson, the daughter of a Lancashire silk manufacturer. They were married the following year, Hicks subsequently adding his wife's maiden name to his own.
Owned a succession of motors cars. He was also fascinated by telephones and aeroplanes, and acquired a good grasp of their working.
1905 He was a founder member of the Automobile Association.
1907 Became chairman of the Motor Union of Great Britain and Ireland
1908 First elected to Parliament for Manchester but lost his seat in 1910
1909 Biographical information and image at Automotor Journal 1909/02/27
1911 Elected MP for Brentford
1911 After the merger of the Motor Union and the Automobile Association he served as chairman until 1922
From 1918 to 1929 was MP for Twickenham
1919 Appointed baronet
1920s Held a succession of ministerial appointments. He was best known as a long-serving and controversial Home Secretary from 1924 to 1929, during which he gained a reputation for strict authoritarianism.
1932 Died at home in Sussex
See Also
Sources of Information
- Wikipedia
- Biography of William Joynson-Hicks, ODNB