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{{Short description|British landowner and Conservative politician}}
{{Other people}}
{{Other people}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
⚫
'''Sir Charles Andrew Morrison''' (25 June 1932 – 9 May 2005) was a British landowner and [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] politician. He sat as [[Member of Parliament]] for [[Devizes (UK Parliament constituency)|Devizes]] from 1964 until 1992.
| honorific-prefix = [[The Honourable]]
| name = Sir Charles Morrison
| honorific-suffix =
| image =
| caption =
| office = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br>for [[Devizes (UK Parliament constituency)|Devizes]]
| term_start = 14 May 1964
| term_end = 16 March 1992
| predecessor = [[Percivall Pott (politician)|H. Percivall Pott]]
| successor = [[Michael Ancram]]
| birth_name = Charles Andrew Morrison
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1932|06|25}}
| birth_place = London, England
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2005|05|09|1932|06|25}}
| death_place = London, England
| residence = [[Fyfield (Pewsey)|Fyfield Manor]]
| education = [[Eton College]]<br />[[University of Cambridge]]<br />[[Royal Agricultural College]]
| spouse = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Antoinette Frances Sibell Long<br />|28 October 1954|1984|reason=div}}
* {{marriage|Rosalind Elizabeth Ward<br />|1984 |1999|reason=div}}
}}
| children =
| parents = [[John Morrison, 1st Baron Margadale]]
| relations = [[Peter Morrison]] (brother)<br />[[Mary Anne Morrison]] (sister)
}}

⚫
'''Sir Charles Andrew Morrison''' (25 June 1932 – 9 May 2005) was a British landowner and [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] politician. He served as [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] for [[Devizes (UK Parliament constituency)|Devizes]] from 1964 until 1992.

==Early life==
Morrison was born in London, the son of [[John Morrison, 1st Baron Margadale|John Morrison]], a [[Wiltshire]] landowner and [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] who was later ennobled as [[Baron Margadale]] (entitling his son to the honorific "The Honourable"), and was educated at [[Eton College|Eton]].<ref name="Telegraph"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=MPsWMaKbJ8mH8PJRbVXDAw&scan=1|title=Index entry|accessdate=1 October 2024|work=FreeBMD|publisher=ONS}}</ref> Morrison was the brother of [[Peter Morrison]], who became member of parliament for [[Chester]], while his sister, [[Mary Anne Morrison|Dame Mary Morrison]], was a [[Woman of the Bedchamber]] to [[Queen Elizabeth II]] for over fifty years.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/the_queens_diamond_jubilee/9074791/Her-Majestys-A-Team.html "Her Majesty's A-team"] ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]''</ref>

Morrison's great-great-grandfather [[James Morrison (businessman)|James Morrison]] created the family's great fortune by [[stockpiling]] black crepe fabric in readiness for the [[mourning]] of [[King William IV]] in 1837, becoming known as "the richest commoner in the Empire". In the 1830s, he circumvented high [[tariffs]] on pairs of gloves by importing right-handed gloves through [[Yarmouth, Isle of Wight]], and left-handed ones through [[Southampton]].


After [[Eton College|Eton]] and [[National Service]] in the [[Life Guards (British Army)|Life Guards]], Morrison went up to [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]] for two years, but left, explaining later that "I was just wasting my time and didn't feel like a third year... But I did leave voluntarily." He then trained at the [[Royal Agricultural College]], [[Cirencester]], before starting work on managing the family estates.<ref name="Telegraph"/>
==Background and education==
Morrison was the son of [[John Morrison, 1st Baron Margadale|John Morrison]], a [[Wiltshire]] [[landowner]] and [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[Member of Parliament]] who was later ennobled as [[Baron Margadale]] (entitling his son to the honorific "The Honourable"), and was educated at [[Eton College|Eton]].<ref name="Telegraph"/> Morrison's great-great-grandfather James Morrison created the family's great fortune by [[stockpiling]] black crepe fabric in readiness for the [[mourning]] of [[King William IV]] in 1837, becoming known as "the richest commoner in the Empire". In the 1830s, he circumvented high [[tariffs]] on pairs of gloves by importing right-handed gloves through [[Yarmouth, Isle of Wight]], and left-handed ones through [[Southampton]]. Morrison was the brother of [[Peter Morrison]], who became member of parliament for [[Chester]], while his sister, [[Mary Anne Morrison|Dame Mary Morrison]], has been a [[Woman of the Bedchamber]] to [[Queen Elizabeth II]] for over fifty years.<ref>Daily Telegraph "Her Majesty's A-team" https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/the_queens_diamond_jubilee/9074791/Her-Majestys-A-Team.html</ref> After [[Eton College|Eton]] and [[National Service]] in the [[Life Guards (British Army)|Life Guards]], Morrison went up to [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]] for two years, but left, explaining later that "I was just wasting my time and didn't feel like a third year... But I did leave voluntarily." He then trained at the [[Royal Agricultural College]], [[Cirencester]], before starting work on managing the family estates.<ref name="Telegraph"/>


==Career==
==Career==
In 1958, Morrison became a member of [[Wiltshire County Council]] and chaired its Education Committee in 1963-1964.<ref name="Telegraph">[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1489795/Sir-Charles-Morrison.html Charles Morrison obituary], telegraph.co.uk</ref> He entered Parliament in May 1964 at [[Devizes by-election, 1964|a by-election]] in the [[Devizes (UK Parliament constituency)|Devizes constituency]] which followed the death of [[Percivall Pott (politician)|Percivall Pott]], holding the seat for the Conservatives against all opinion poll forecasts and against the trend in three other by-elections held on the same day. This was put down to his being well-known, popular and active in the constituency. His campaign had the support of [[Ian Fleming]], a relation by marriage of Morrison's wife Sara, who wrote an article called ''To Westminster with Love'' beginning with the words "Charles Morrison - Licensed to Kill."<ref name="Telegraph"/>
In 1958, Morrison became a member of [[Wiltshire County Council]] and chaired its Education Committee in 1963–1964.<ref name="Telegraph">[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1489795/Sir-Charles-Morrison.html Charles Morrison obituary], ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]''</ref> He entered Parliament in May 1964 at [[1964 Devizes by-election|a by-election]] in the [[Devizes (UK Parliament constituency)|Devizes constituency]] which followed the death of [[Percivall Pott (politician)|Percivall Pott]], holding the seat for the Conservatives against all opinion poll forecasts and against the trend in three other by-elections held on the same day. This was put down to his being well-known, popular and active in the constituency. His campaign had the support of [[Ian Fleming]], a relation by marriage of Morrison's wife Sara, who wrote an article called ''To Westminster with Love'' beginning with the words "Charles Morrison - Licensed to Kill."<ref name="Telegraph"/>


Soon after his election to parliament, Morrison supported [[Ted Heath]]'s bid for the party leadership and went on to serve as shadow minister for sport. However, when his party returned to power under Heath in 1970, Morrison failed to be given a job in the new government.<ref name="Telegraph"/> In 1966, Morrison bought [[Fyfield (Pewsey)|Fyfield Manor]] near Pewsey in [[Wiltshire]] from the former [[Prime Minister]] [[Anthony Eden]]. As a landowner and Conservative Party MP his moderate views did not find favour with Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]]. He continued as MP for Devizes until his retirement in 1992, when he was succeeded by [[Michael Ancram]]. He was [[knight]]ed in 1988.<ref name="Telegraph"/>
Soon after his election to parliament, Morrison supported [[Ted Heath]]'s bid for the party leadership and went on to serve as shadow minister for sport. However, when his party returned to power under Heath in 1970, Morrison failed to be given a job in the new government.<ref name="Telegraph"/> In 1966, Morrison bought [[Fyfield (Pewsey)|Fyfield Manor]] near Pewsey in [[Wiltshire]] from the former prime minister [[Anthony Eden]]. As a landowner and Conservative Party MP his moderate views did not find favour with Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]]. He continued as MP for Devizes until his retirement in 1992, when he was succeeded by [[Michael Ancram]]. He was [[knight]]ed in 1988.<ref name="Telegraph"/>


==Marriages==
==Personal life==
Morrison married firstly, on 28 October 1954, Antoinette Sara Frances Sibell Long, the only child of the [[Walter Long, 2nd Viscount Long|2nd Viscount Long]] and his wife [[Laura Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough|Viscountess (Frances) Laura Long (née Charteris)]]. They had two children, but the marriage ended in divorce. In 1984 he married secondly Rosalind Elizabeth Ward (née Lygon). They also divorced.
Morrison married firstly, on 28 October 1954, Antoinette Sara Frances Sibell Long, the only child of the [[Walter Long, 2nd Viscount Long|2nd Viscount Long]] and his wife [[Laura Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough|Viscountess (Frances) Laura Long (née Charteris)]]. They had two children, a daughter Anabel and a son David, who had [[Princess Alexandra of Kent]] as a godmother.<ref>{{cite web |title=Princess Alexandra of Kent became a Godparent to the baby son of Mr Charles Morrison and the Hon. Mrs Morrison in the tiny village church at South Wraxall, Wiltshire. The baby was christened David John Morrison. 24th April 1959. |url=https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/princess-alexandra-of-kent-became-a-godparent-to-the-baby-news-photo/1124730365?adppopup=true |website=Getty Images}}</ref> The marriage ended in divorce in 1984.<ref name = Telegraph/>

In 1984 he married secondly Rosalind Elizabeth Ward (née Lygon) (1946–2020) of [[Madresfield]]. They also divorced, in 1999.<ref name = Telegraph/>

Morrison died from cancer in a London hospital on 9 May 2005, at the age of 72.<ref name = Telegraph/><ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/7248166.former-mp-dies-aged-72/|title = Former MP dies aged 72|date = 20 May 2005|newspaper = [[Gazette and Herald]]|accessdate = 1 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/indexes_search.asp#Results|title = MORRISON, THE HONOURABLE SIR 1932 GRO Reference: DOR Q2/2005 in WESTMINSTER (2581E) Reg E51C Entry Number 132|website = [[General Register Office]]|accessdate = 1 October 2024|url-access = limited}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* {{hansard-contribs | mr-charles-morrison | Mr Charles Morrison }}
* {{hansard-contribs | mr-charles-morrison | Mr Charles Morrison }}
* Times Guide to the House of Commons 1987, Guardian obituary
* Times Guide to the House of Commons 1987, Guardian obituary
* {{Rayment|date=February 2012}}
* {{Rayment|external links=y|date=February 2012}}


{{s-start}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|uk}}
{{s-par|uk}}
{{succession box
{{succession box
| title = [[Member of Parliament]] for [[Devizes (UK Parliament constituency)|Devizes]]
| title = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] for [[Devizes (UK Parliament constituency)|Devizes]]
| years = [[Devizes by-election, 1964|1964]]&ndash;[[United Kingdom general election, 1992|1992]]
| years = [[1964 Devizes by-election|1964]]–[[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992]]
| before = [[Percivall Pott (politician)|H. Percivall Pott]]
| before = [[Percivall Pott (politician)|H. Percivall Pott]]
| after = [[Michael Ancram]]
| after = [[Michael Ancram]]
}}
}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Morrison, Charles}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morrison, Charles}}
[[Category:1932 births]]
[[Category:1932 births]]
[[Category:2005 deaths]]
[[Category:2005 deaths]]
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[[Category:Alumni of the Royal Agricultural University]]
[[Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies]]
[[Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in England]]
[[Category:Knights Bachelor]]
[[Category:Knights Bachelor]]
[[Category:Members of Wiltshire County Council]]
[[Category:Members of Wiltshire County Council]]
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[[Category:Morrison family|Charles]]
[[Category:People educated at Eton College]]
[[Category:People educated at Eton College]]
[[Category:Politicians awarded knighthoods]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1959–1964]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1959–1964]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1964–1966]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1964–1966]]
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[[Category:UK MPs 1987–1992]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1987–1992]]
[[Category:Younger sons of barons]]
[[Category:Younger sons of barons]]
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[[Category:Alumni of the Royal Agricultural University]]
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[[Category:Morrison family|Charles]]

Latest revision as of 19:48, 1 October 2024

For other people named Charles Morrison, see Charles Morrison (disambiguation).

The Honourable
Sir Charles Morrison
Member of Parliament
for Devizes
In office
14 May 1964 – 16 March 1992
Preceded byH. Percivall Pott
Succeeded byMichael Ancram
Personal details
Born
Charles Andrew Morrison

(1932-06-25)25 June 1932
London, England
Died9 May 2005(2005-05-09) (aged 72)
London, England
Spouses
Antoinette Frances Sibell Long
​
​
(m. 1954; div. 1984)​
Rosalind Elizabeth Ward
​
​
(m. 1984; div. 1999)​
RelationsPeter Morrison (brother)
Mary Anne Morrison (sister)
ParentJohn Morrison, 1st Baron Margadale
ResidenceFyfield Manor
EducationEton College
University of Cambridge
Royal Agricultural College

Sir Charles Andrew Morrison (25 June 1932 – 9 May 2005) was a British landowner and Conservative politician. He served as Member of Parliament for Devizes from 1964 until 1992.

Early life

[edit]

Morrison was born in London, the son of John Morrison, a Wiltshire landowner and Conservative Member of Parliament who was later ennobled as Baron Margadale (entitling his son to the honorific "The Honourable"), and was educated at Eton.[1][2] Morrison was the brother of Peter Morrison, who became member of parliament for Chester, while his sister, Dame Mary Morrison, was a Woman of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II for over fifty years.[3]

Morrison's great-great-grandfather James Morrison created the family's great fortune by stockpiling black crepe fabric in readiness for the mourning of King William IV in 1837, becoming known as "the richest commoner in the Empire". In the 1830s, he circumvented high tariffs on pairs of gloves by importing right-handed gloves through Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, and left-handed ones through Southampton.

After Eton and National Service in the Life Guards, Morrison went up to Cambridge for two years, but left, explaining later that "I was just wasting my time and didn't feel like a third year... But I did leave voluntarily." He then trained at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, before starting work on managing the family estates.[1]

Career

[edit]

In 1958, Morrison became a member of Wiltshire County Council and chaired its Education Committee in 1963–1964.[1] He entered Parliament in May 1964 at a by-election in the Devizes constituency which followed the death of Percivall Pott, holding the seat for the Conservatives against all opinion poll forecasts and against the trend in three other by-elections held on the same day. This was put down to his being well-known, popular and active in the constituency. His campaign had the support of Ian Fleming, a relation by marriage of Morrison's wife Sara, who wrote an article called To Westminster with Love beginning with the words "Charles Morrison - Licensed to Kill."[1]

Soon after his election to parliament, Morrison supported Ted Heath's bid for the party leadership and went on to serve as shadow minister for sport. However, when his party returned to power under Heath in 1970, Morrison failed to be given a job in the new government.[1] In 1966, Morrison bought Fyfield Manor near Pewsey in Wiltshire from the former prime minister Anthony Eden. As a landowner and Conservative Party MP his moderate views did not find favour with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. He continued as MP for Devizes until his retirement in 1992, when he was succeeded by Michael Ancram. He was knighted in 1988.[1]

Personal life

[edit]

Morrison married firstly, on 28 October 1954, Antoinette Sara Frances Sibell Long, the only child of the 2nd Viscount Long and his wife Viscountess (Frances) Laura Long (née Charteris). They had two children, a daughter Anabel and a son David, who had Princess Alexandra of Kent as a godmother.[4] The marriage ended in divorce in 1984.[1]

In 1984 he married secondly Rosalind Elizabeth Ward (née Lygon) (1946–2020) of Madresfield. They also divorced, in 1999.[1]

Morrison died from cancer in a London hospital on 9 May 2005, at the age of 72.[1][5][6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Charles Morrison obituary, The Daily Telegraph
  2. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Her Majesty's A-team" The Daily Telegraph
  4. ^ "Princess Alexandra of Kent became a Godparent to the baby son of Mr Charles Morrison and the Hon. Mrs Morrison in the tiny village church at South Wraxall, Wiltshire. The baby was christened David John Morrison. 24th April 1959". Getty Images.
  5. ^ "Former MP dies aged 72". Gazette and Herald. 20 May 2005. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  6. ^ "MORRISON, THE HONOURABLE SIR 1932 GRO Reference: DOR Q2/2005 in WESTMINSTER (2581E) Reg E51C Entry Number 132". General Register Office. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
[edit]
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Devizes
1964–1992 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Charles_Morrison&oldid=1248847899"