Sir Harry Hylton-Foster | |
|---|---|
) 1960 portrait of Hylton-Foster dressed in the Speaker′s robes. | |
| Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom | |
| In office 20 October 1959 – 2 September 1965 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Harold Macmillan Sir Alec Douglas-Home Harold Wilson |
| Preceded by | William Morrison |
| Succeeded by | Horace King |
| Solicitor General | |
| In office 1954–1959 | |
| Preceded by | Sir Reginald Manningham-Buller |
| Succeeded by | Sir Jocelyn Simon |
| Member of Parliament for Cities of London and Westminster | |
| In office 8 October 1959 – 2 September 1965 | |
| Preceded by | Sir Harold Webbe |
| Succeeded by | John Smith |
| Member of Parliament for York | |
| In office 23 February 1950 – 8 October 1959 | |
| Preceded by | John Corlett |
| Succeeded by | Charles Longbottom |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 April 1905 Surrey, England, United Kingdom |
| Died | 2 September 1965 (aged 60) |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse(s) | Audrey Brown |
| Alma mater | Magdalen College, Oxford |
Sir Harry Braustyn Hylton Hylton-Foster (10 April 1905 – 2 September 1965), was a British Conservative Party politician who served as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1950 until his death. He was also the Speaker of the House of Commons for the final six years of his life.
Early life
Hylton-Foster was born in Surrey, his father was a barrister, and he was educated at Eton College before reading jurisprudence at Magdalen College, Oxford, in which he graduated with a first-class degree. He was called to the bar by the Inner Temple in 1928, at which time he was also working as a legal secretary for Robert Finlay, 1st Viscount Finlay.
Military service
During the Second World War, Hylton-Foster served in the Royal Air Force volunteer reserve. He also served as a deputy judge advocate, a military judge, in North Africa.
Political career
After the end of the war, he stood as the Conservative candidate for the Shipley seat in the 1945 general election, but was unsuccessful. However, in the 1950 election he succeeded in taking the York seat, a seat he held for the next two elections before standing for the safer seat for the Cities of London and Westminster in the 1959 election. He was made King's Counsel in 1947.
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In 1954, Hylton-Foster was named the Solicitor General for England and Wales, receiving the customary knighthood. The fact that he was serving as solicitor general when he was named speaker of the House of Commons in 1959 was a source of some controversy, which was compounded by the fact that the opposition Labour Party felt they had been insufficiently consulted about the nomination. However, once the controversy died down, Hylton-Foster proved to be a popular and respected speaker.
Harry Hylton-Foster died suddenly in 1965 whilst still in office. His wife, Audrey, was given a life peerage as Baroness Hylton-Foster in his honour the same year, and was granted a life annuity by the Honourable Lady Hylton-Foster's Annuity Act 1965.
Personal life
Hylton-Foster and his wife are buried together in the churchyard of St Barnabas Church, Ranmore Common, Surrey.
References
External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Harry Hylton-Foster
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Corlett | Member of Parliament for the City of York 1950–1959 | Succeeded by Charles Longbottom |
| Preceded by Sir Harold Webbe | Member of Parliament for the Cities of London and Westminster 1959–1965 | Succeeded by John Smith |
| Preceded by William Morrison | Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom 1959–1965 | Succeeded by Dr. Horace King |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by Sir Reginald Manningham-Buller | Solicitor General for England and Wales 1954–1959 | Succeeded by Sir Jocelyn Simon |