Background
Gilmour was the son of Sir John Gilmour, 1st Baronet, chairman of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist party, who was created a baronet in 1897. His mother was Henrietta, daughter of David Gilmour.
Gilmour was the son of Sir John Gilmour, 1st Baronet, chairman of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist party, who was created a baronet in 1897. His mother was Henrietta, daughter of David Gilmour.
He was educated at Trinity College, Glenalmond, University of Edinburgh and Trinity Hall, Cambridge.
He notably served as Home Secretary from 1932 to 1935. Gilmour was a lieutenant in the Fifeshire Volunteer Light Horse, and was among the officers of the Fife and Forfar volunteer battalions to volunteer for service in the Second Boer War. He was commissioned a lieutenant in the Imperial Yeomanry on 7 February 1900, and served in South Africa with the 20th (Fife and Forfarshire Light Horse) Company of the 6th Battalion.
He again served in World War I with the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, where he was again mentioned in despatches and awarded the Defence Science Organisation with Barometer
His service after the war saw him rise to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel when he commanded the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry. On 8 May 1931 he was made the Honorary Colonel of the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry.
He was a Junior Lord of the Treasury in 1921-1922, Scottish Unionist Whip from 1919–1922 and in 1924. He was appointed as Secretary for Scotland in 1924, and became the first Secretary of State for Scotland when the post was upgraded in 1926.
Later in his career he served as Minister of Shipping during the early months of the Second World War but died in office in 1940.
He was Rector of the University of Edinburgh, 1926–1929 and was awarded honorary degrees by the University of Glasgow in 1925, the University of Edinburgh in 1927 and the University of Street Andrews in 1929. He was a Brigadier with the Royal Company of Archers. He was made Vice-Lieutenant for the County of Fife on 27 March 1936.
Appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order 1935.
Gilmour first married Mary Louise Lambert, daughter of Edward Tiley Lambert, on 9 April 1902 at Saint Mary´s church, Battle, Sussex. His great-nephew, George Younger, was also a Conservative Member of Parliament and served as Scottish Secretary from 1979-1986.
29th United Kingdom Parliament. 30th United Kingdom Parliament. 31st United Kingdom Parliament.
32nd United Kingdom Parliament.
33rd United Kingdom Parliament. 34th United Kingdom Parliament.
35th United Kingdom Parliament. 36th United Kingdom Parliament.
37th United Kingdom Parliament]
He unsuccessfully contested East Fife in 1906 and was elected as Member of Parliament (Member of Parliament) for East Renfrewshire from 1910–1918 and for Glasgow Pollok from 1918 until 1940.
Gilmour was Master of the Fife Fox Hounds, 1902–1906 and a Member of Fife County Council 1901-1910.
Spouse 1902, Mary Louiso, c.d. of late East. T. Lambert, Telham Court, Battle, Sussex.