Derick Heathcoat-Amory, 1st Viscount Amory Knight of the Order of the Garter Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Street Michael and Street George Territorial Decoration Personal Computer Doctor of Laws was a British Conservative politician and member of the House of Lords.
Background
Born in London, the son of Sir Ian Heathcoat-Amory, 2nd Baronet (see Heathcoat-Amory baronets) and Alexandra Georgina (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. Who d 1942), eldest daughter of Vice-Admiral Henry Seymour Central Bank (brother of Francis, 5th Marquess of Hertford Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath).
Education
He was educated at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford, receiving an Master of Arts degree.
Career
He served as Chancellor of the Exchequer between 1958 and 1960, and later as Chancellor of the University of Exeter from 1972 until his death in 1981. His great-nephews include the Rt Honorary David Heathcoat-Amory and Sir Ian Heathcoat-Amory, 6th and present baronet. A great-aunt was the sculptress, Princess Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, Countess von Gleichen.
Heathcoat-Amory was elected a Devon County Councillor in 1932 and worked in textile manufacturing and banking.
He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 11th (Devonshire) Brigade of the Royal Artillery (Territorial Army) on 31 July 1920, promoted to lieutenant in the 96th (Royal Devonshire Yeomanry) Field Brigade on 31 July 1922 and promoted to captain on 1 September 1926. He was promoted to major on 1 October 1935.
During the Second World War, he was wounded and captured during Operation Market-Garden. He retired on 1 September 1948 with the honorary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.
When the Conservatives came to power under Winston Churchill in 1951 he was appointed Minister of Pensions.
In September 1953 he was appointed Minister of State for Trade. He joined Churchill"s Cabinet in July 1954 succeeding Sir Thomas Dugdale as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries (continuing his responsibilities as Minister of State for Trade). In October 1954 these ministries merged under Heathcoat-Amory"s leadership.
The Honorary
Gwilym Lloyd George later Viscount Tenby had previously been charged with Food ministerial affairs He remained in this post until being appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1958, by Harold Macmillan, an office he held until 1960. He stood down from the House of Commons in 1960 and was raised to the peerage as Viscount Amory, of Tiverton in the County of Devon, on 1 September of that year.
Viscount Amory was sworn of the Privy Council in 1953, appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Street Michael and Street George in 1961 and Knight of the Order of the Garter in 1968.
He also received the degree of Honorary Doctor of Laws (Exon) in 1959, before serving as Chancellor of Exeter University from 1972 to 1981.
- Knight of the Order of the Garter
- Bt
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Street Michael and Street George
- Territorial Decoration.
Membership
38th United Kingdom Parliament. 39th United Kingdom Parliament. 40th United Kingdom Parliament.
41st United Kingdom Parliament.
42nd United Kingdom Parliament.