Andrew
Bonar Law,
the son of Rev. James Law, was born in Rexton, New Brunswick (now
a part of Canada) in 1858. Educated in
Canada he moved to Glasgow in Scotland
after the death of his mother and at sixteen started work in the family's
ironwork business.
Bonar Law joined the Conservative Party
and in the 1900 General Election was elected
to represent Glasgow Blackfriars. He impressed
Arthur Balfour and when he formed a government
in 1902 he appointed him as his Secretary to the Board of Trade. Bonar
Law, like many Conservative MPs, lost
his seat in the 1906 General Election. However,
later that year won a by-election at Dulwich.
When Arthur Balfour resigned in 1911 Bonar
Law became the new leader of the Conservative
Party. The outbreak of war was embarrassing for Bonar Law because
it was claimed that his family firm had been selling iron to Germany
for its armaments programme until August 1914.
When Herbert Asquith formed a coalition
government in May 1915, Bonar Law became Secretary of State for the
Colonies and a member of the War Committee. David
Lloyd George replaced Asquith in 1916 and Bonar Law was offered
the more important post of Chancellor of the Exchequer. This effectively
made him Lloyd George's second-in-command.
Bonar Law retired as leader of the Conservative
Party in March 1921, but despite poor health, agreed to become
Prime Minister after David Lloyd George
was removed from office in October 1922. His health continued to deteriorate
and in May 1923 he was forced to resign. Andrew
Bonar Law died on 30th October 1923.
(1)
David
Kirkwood,
My Life of Revolt (1935)
Mr Bonar Law was Prime
Minister. He was one of the greatest men ever I met, very able and
very sincere. He was a true House of Commons man. On one occasion
we were in a hot debate. I sat for seven hours without leaving my
seat.
Bonar Law was there all the time. He was looking ill and languid.
Then he rose to reply. Without a note, he took up and answered seven
speeches in detail. I could not believe my ears and eyes. He spoke
as if he had the speeches in front of him.
A week later we interrupted
business for two hours with a constant barracking : "What are
you going to do about unemployment?" It was a violent attack.
We won some concessions. Bonar Law showed no resentment. He remained
calm and unruffled. Afterwards we happened to meet face to face in
the Lobby. He stopped and said : "You Clyde boys were pretty
hard on me today. But it's fine to hear your Glasgow accent. It's
like a sniff of the air of Scotland in the musty atmosphere of this
place."
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