Biography

After graduating from Glasgow University and war service, 1914-1918, as a Medical Officer with the Royal Scots Greys, Walter Elliot was Conservative MP for Lanark, 1918-1923, Glasgow Kelvingrove, 1924-1945 and 1950-1958, and the Scottish Universities, 1946-1950. He was Under-Secretary and Under-Secretary of State for Health in Scotland, 1923-1924 and 1924-1929, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, 1931-1932, Minister of Agriculture, 1932-1936, Secretary of State for Scotland, 1936-1938, and Minister of Health, 1938-1940, resigning with the fall of the Chamberlain government in May. He was a member of the Conservative Shadow Cabinet, 1946-1951, but did not take office when the Conservatives returned to power in that year. He was appointed a Companion of Honour in 1952 and was Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, 1956-1957.

Walter Elliot had a life-long interest in medical science, and was much involved with forwarding the nutritional work of the Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen, directed by his friend, John Boyd Orr, the later Nobel peace prize winner and Baron Boyd-Orr of Brechin (1880-1971). A Conservative with strong interest in social reform, he was one of the best-known Scottish politicians of his age, and one with a high profile in British politics, and a popular broadcaster, speaker and lecturer on topics reflecting his remarkably wide interests. His interests in foreign and colonial affairs were particularly focussed on the Middle East and Africa. He was a leading supporter of the Zionist cause, and, during his periods of office, its friend within government, encouraged by close friendships with Chaim Weitzmann (1874-1952), Lady Blanche (‘Baffy’) Dugdale (1880-1947) and the historian, Sir Lewis Bernstein Namier (1888-1960).

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