Reginald McKenna was born in 1863. Educated privately and at Trinity
Hall, Cambridge, he obtained a degree
in mathematics in 1885.
A member of the Liberal Party, McKenna
won North Monmouthshire in the 1895 General Election.
In the government formed by Henry Campbell-Bannerman
in 1905, McKenna was appointed as Secretary to the Treasury. This
was followed by a year as President of the Board of Education (February
1907 - April, 1908). McKenna also served as First Lord of the Admiralty
(1908-1911), Home Secretary (1911-1915) and Chancellor of the Exchequer
(1915 - 1916) under Herbert Asquith.
McKenna was totally opposed to conscription
and left the government after it was introduced by David
Lloyd George in 1916. Like most Liberals
that stayed loyal to Asquith, McKenna lost his seat in the 1918
General Election. After the election McKenna became Chairman of
the Midland Bank and retired from public life. Reginald McKenna died
in 1943.
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