Sir Derwent Hall Caine, 1st Baronet was a British actor, publisher and Labour politician.
Background
Caine was born into an Isle of Manitoba family, the son of novelist Hall Caine and his wife Mary Chandler. He was born at Keswick in Cumberland, and so derived his name from the nearby lake of Derwent Water. He became an actor, making his stage debut in 1906 in his father"s adaptation of his novel, The Bondman.
In 1915 he took one of the parts in his father"s first authorised film – a version of The Christian, made by the London Film Company.
Education
He was a sensitive child with asthma,and attended Street Cyprian"s School in Eastbourne for his health.
Career
His father went to America to encourage American involvement in World War I and had dramatic interests there. In 1915 Derwent Caine sailed to America to look after those interests. Although he was declared unfit for active service, he was nearly prevented from travelling because of a change of rules.
In America he starred in three films made by the Arrow Film Corporation.
These were The Deemster (which had been written by his father), a version of Crime and Punishment by Dostoyevsky, and the propaganda film Huns at our gate. Caine was subsequently acquitted.
When the Labour government collapsed in 1931 he carried on supporting Ramsay MacDonald as a National Labour Member of Parliament. Hall Caine was the only sitting National Labour Member of Parliament to be opposed by the Conservatives in the 1931 General Election. He lost his seat, to Frank Hornby, and finished bottom of the poll.
In 1935 the two brothers established the Hall Caine Airport on the Isle of Manitoba
He was given a knighthood in 1935 and a baronetcy in 1937. He died in Miami.
Membership
35th United Kingdom Parliament]
In 1929 he stood for parliament as Labour candidate for Liverpool, Everton and was returned as Member of Parliament.