| Essential
facts: Born: 16 September 1858
(New Brunswick, Canada)
Died: 30 October 1923 (London)
Nickname: "The Unknown Prime Minister"
Education: Gilbertfield School, Hamilton and Glasgow High School
Family: Bonar Law was the youngest son of 5 children, and also
had two younger half-sisters. He was married to Annie Pitcairn
Robley, and had 4 sons and 2 daughters
Age at appointment: 64 years, 37 days
First entered Parliament: October 1900
Maiden Speech: 19 February 1901 during the debate on the Address
Total time as PM: 209 days
Quotes:
"If I am a great man, then a good many great
men of history are frauds"
"[The present Liberal Government] have turned the House of
Commons into an exchange where everything is bought and sold. In
order to retain for a little longer the ascendancy of their
party, to remain a few months longer in office, they have sold
the Constitution, they have sold themselves"
Biography:
Andrew Bonar Law was the Canadian-born son of a Scottish
clergyman. He worked as a boy on his fathers smallholding. At 12
he went to live with his late mother's cousins who were rich
Glaswegian merchant bankers in Scotland. He later worked in the
family bank, while attending university night classes which gave
him an interest in politics and debating. At 27 he was making
his fortune as an iron merchant but did not live extravagantly,
having simple tastes.
With an inheritance which gave him financial independence, Bonar
Law entered politics. In 1900 he was elected Conservative MP for
Glasgow Blackfriars. He had a reputation for honesty and
fearlessness, and was well regarded as an effective speaker.
These qualities promoted him to Parliamentary Secretary to the
Board of Trade in 1902. He lost his seat in the 1906 Liberal
landslide General Election. But he returned to represent Dulwich
following a by-election later in the same year. Though hit hard
by the death of his wife, he continued his political career, and
won the Conservative party leadership in 1911 as a compromise
candidate.
At the outbreak of war he offered the government the support of
the Conservatives in the coalition government. Working closely
with the Liberals caused Law to admire
Lloyd George, to such a degree that he even
declined the premiership in favour of Lloyd George's
appointment. He was given senior positions in Lloyd George's new
war cabinet. His promotion reflected the great mutual trust
between both leaders and made for a well co-ordinated political
partnership. Their coalition was re-elected by a landslide
following the Armistice.
Law had lost his two eldest sons in the war and his health
deteriorated. To recover he resigned as Leader of the House and
leader of his party. At the time many leading Conservatives were
so enthralled by Lloyd George that they were considering leaving
the Conservatives to join a new party Lloyd George was planning.
Law made a decisive rousing speech at the Conservative
Carlton Club which changed their minds and saved the
Conservative party. Law persuaded the Conservatives to end the
coalition, and work as an independent party. Conservative
withdrawal forced Lloyd George to resign. The King then invited
Law to form a new administration in 1922.
Law's 'Tranquility Manifesto' was an attempt to allow Britain
to recover from war damage. Though elected, Law lasted just 209
days in office. He resigned in May 1923 due to ill health, and
died of throat cancer 6 months later. Dubbed rather unkindly as
'the unknown Prime Minister', most of Law's work was done before
his premiership. A popular but now little-noted Prime Minister,
Law's funeral service took place in Westminster Abbey. |
