Edward Shackleton, Baron Shackleton: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|British geographer, RAF officer and politician (1911–1994)}}
{{short description|British geographer, RAF officer and politician (1911–1994)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix   = [[The Right Honourable]]
| honorific-prefix = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name               = The Lord Shackleton
| name             = The Lord Shackleton
| honorific-suffix   = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=|KG|AC|OBE|PC|FRS|FRGS|FRCGS}}
| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=|KG|AC|OBE|PC|FRS|FRGS|FRCGS}}
| image               = Edward Shackleton.jpg
| image           = Edward Shackleton.jpg
| caption             = 1969 photograph, by [[Godfrey Argent]]
| caption         = 1969 photograph, by [[Godfrey Argent]]
| office             = [[Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom)|Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords<br/>Shadow Leader of the House of Lords]]
| office           = [[Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom)|Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords<br/>Shadow Leader of the House of Lords]]
| leader             = {{ubl|[[Harold Wilson]]}}
| leader           = {{ubl|[[Harold Wilson]]}}
| term_start         = 19 June 1970
| term_start       = 19 June 1970
| term_end           = 4 March 1974
| term_end         = 4 March 1974
| predecessor         = [[The Lord Carrington]]
| predecessor     = [[The Lord Carrington]]
| successor           = [[The Lord Carrington]]
| successor       = [[The Lord Carrington]]
| office1             = [[Leader of the House of Lords]]
| office1         = [[Leader of the House of Lords]]
| monarch1           = [[Elizabeth II]]
| monarch1         = [[Elizabeth II]]
| primeminister1     = [[Harold Wilson]]
| primeminister1   = [[Harold Wilson]]
| term_start1         = 16 January 1968
| term_start1     = 16 January 1968
| term_end1           = 20 June 1970
| term_end1       = 20 June 1970
| predecessor1       = [[Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford|The Earl of Longford]]
| predecessor1     = [[Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford|The Earl of Longford]]
| successor1         = [[George Jellicoe, 2nd Earl Jellicoe|The Earl Jellicoe]]
| successor1       = [[George Jellicoe, 2nd Earl Jellicoe|The Earl Jellicoe]]
| office2             = [[Lord Privy Seal|Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal]]
| office2         = [[Lord Privy Seal|Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal]]
| term_start2         = 16 January 1968
| term_start2     = 16 January 1968
| term_end2           = 6 April 1968
| term_end2       = 6 April 1968
| predecessor2       = [[Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford|The Earl Longford]]
| predecessor2     = [[Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford|The Earl Longford]]
| successor2         = [[Fred Peart]]<!--
| successor2       = [[Fred Peart]]<!--
|monarch2 = [[Elizabeth II]]
|monarch2 = [[Elizabeth II]]
|primeminister2 = [[Harold Wilson]]-->
|primeminister2 = [[Harold Wilson]]-->
| term_start3         = 1 November 1968
| term_start3     = 1 November 1968
| term_end3           = 20 June 1970
| term_end3       = 20 June 1970
| predecessor3       = [[Fred Peart]]
| predecessor3     = [[Fred Peart]]
| successor3         = [[George Jellicoe, 2nd Earl Jellicoe|The Earl Jellicoe]]
| successor3       = [[George Jellicoe, 2nd Earl Jellicoe|The Earl Jellicoe]]
| office4             = [[Paymaster General]]
| office4         = [[Paymaster General]]
| term_start4         = 6 April 1968
| term_start4     = 6 April 1968
| term_end4           = 1 November 1968<!--
| term_end4       = 1 November 1968<!--
|monarch4 = [[Elizabeth II]]
|monarch4 = [[Elizabeth II]]
|primeminister4 = [[Harold Wilson]]-->
|primeminister4 = [[Harold Wilson]]-->
| predecessor4       = [[George Wigg]]
| predecessor4     = [[George Wigg]]
| successor4         = [[Judith Hart]]
| successor4       = [[Judith Hart]]
| office5             = [[Deputy Leader of the House of Lords]]
| office5         = [[Deputy Leader of the House of Lords]]
| term_start5         = 7 January 1967
| term_start5     = 7 January 1967
| term_end5           = 16 January 1968
| term_end5       = 16 January 1968
| monarch5           = [[Elizabeth II]]
| monarch5         = [[Elizabeth II]]
| primeminister5     = [[Harold Wilson]]
| primeminister5   = [[Harold Wilson]]
| leader5             = [[Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford|The Earl of Longford]]
| leader5         = [[Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford|The Earl of Longford]]
| predecessor5       = [[Arthur Champion, Baron Champion|The Lord Champion]]
| predecessor5     = [[Arthur Champion, Baron Champion|The Lord Champion]]
| successor5         = [[Malcolm Shepherd, 2nd Baron Shepherd|The Lord Shepherd]]
| successor5       = [[Malcolm Shepherd, 2nd Baron Shepherd|The Lord Shepherd]]
| office6             = [[Minister without portfolio (United Kingdom)|Minister without Portfolio]]
| office6         = [[Minister without portfolio (United Kingdom)|Minister without Portfolio]]
| term_start6         = 7 January 1967
| term_start6     = 7 January 1967
| term_end6           = 16 January 1968
| term_end6       = 16 January 1968
| monarch6           = [[Elizabeth II]]
| monarch6         = [[Elizabeth II]]
| primeminister6     = [[Harold Wilson]]
| primeminister6   = [[Harold Wilson]]
| predecessor6       = [[Douglas Houghton]]
| predecessor6     = [[Douglas Houghton]]
| successor6         = [[Patrick Gordon Walker]]
| successor6       = [[Patrick Gordon Walker]]
| office7             = [[Minister of State for the Air Force]]
| office7         = [[Minister of State for the Air Force]]
| term_start7         = 19 October 1964
| term_start7     = 19 October 1964
| term_end7           = 7 January 1967
| term_end7       = 7 January 1967
| monarch7           = [[Elizabeth II]]
| monarch7         = [[Elizabeth II]]
| primeminister7     = [[Harold Wilson]]
| primeminister7   = [[Harold Wilson]]
| predecessor7       = [[Hugh Fraser (British politician)|Hugh Fraser]]
| predecessor7     = [[Hugh Fraser (British politician)|Hugh Fraser]]
| successor7         = ''office abolished''
| successor7       = ''Office abolished''
| office11           = [[Member of the House of Lords]]<br/>[[Lord Temporal]]
| office11         = Member of the [[House of Lords]]<br/>[[Lord Temporal]]
| term_start11       = 11 August 1958
| term_start11     = 11 August 1958
| term_end11         = 22 September 1994<br/>[[Life peer]]age
| term_end11       = 22 September 1994<br/>[[Life peer]]age
| office12           = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[Preston South]]
| office12         = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[Preston South]]
| term_start12       = 23 February 1950
| term_start12     = 23 February 1950
| term_end12         = 6 May 1955
| term_end12       = 6 May 1955
| predecessor12       = ''constituency established''
| predecessor12   = ''Constituency established''
| successor12         = [[Alan Green (Conservative politician)|Alan Green]]
| successor12     = [[Alan Green (Conservative politician)|Alan Green]]
| office13           = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[Preston (UK Parliament constituency)|Preston]]
| office13         = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[Preston (UK Parliament constituency)|Preston]]
| term_start13       = 31 January 1946
| term_start13     = 31 January 1946
| term_end13         = 3 February 1950
| term_end13       = 3 February 1950
| predecessor13       = [[John William Sunderland]]
| predecessor13   = [[John William Sunderland]]
| successor13         = ''constituency abolished''
| successor13     = ''Constituency abolished''
| birth_date         = 15 July 1911
| birth_date       = 15 July 1911
| death_date         = 22 September 1994 (aged 83)
| birth_place      = [[Wandsworth]], London, England
| alma_mater         = [[Magdalen College, Oxford]]
| death_date       = 22 September 1994 (aged 83)
| spouse             = {{marriage|Betty Horman|1938}}
| death_place      = [[Winchester]], [[Hampshire]], England
| children           = 2
| alma_mater       = [[Magdalen College, Oxford]]
| parents             = [[Ernest Shackleton]]<br/>[[Emily Dorman]]
| spouse           = {{marriage|Betty Horman|1938}}
| module             = {{Infobox military person|embed=yes
| children         = 2
| parents         = [[Ernest Shackleton]]<br/>[[Emily Dorman]]
| module           = {{Infobox military person|embed=yes
  | allegiance    = United Kingdom
  | allegiance    = United Kingdom
  | branch        = [[Royal Air Force]]
  | branch        = [[Royal Air Force]]
Line 89: Line 91:
  | battles      = [[Second World War]]
  | battles      = [[Second World War]]
  | awards        = [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]]
  | awards        = [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]]
}}
| birth_place        = [[Wandsworth]], [[London]], England
| death_place        = [[Winchester]], [[Hampshire]], England
}}
}}
}}
'''Edward Arthur Alexander Shackleton, Baron Shackleton''' (15 July 1911 – 22 September 1994) was a British [[geographer]], [[Royal Air Force]] officer and [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] politician.
'''Edward Arthur Alexander Shackleton, Baron Shackleton''' (15 July 1911 – 22 September 1994) was a British [[geographer]], [[Royal Air Force]] officer and [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] politician.


==Early life and career==
==Early life and career==
Born in [[Wandsworth]], London, Shackleton was the younger son of [[Emily Shackleton|Emily Mary]] and Sir [[Ernest Shackleton]], the Antarctic explorer. Edward Shackleton was educated at [[Radley College]], an [[independent school|independent]] [[boarding school]] for boys in [[Oxfordshire]], followed by [[Magdalen College]], [[University of Oxford|Oxford]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-lord-shackleton-1450860.html|title=Obituary: Lord Shackleton|author=Tam Dalyell|author-link=Tam Dalyell|work=[[The Independent]] newspaper|date=24 September 1994|access-date=19 November 2014}}</ref>
Born in [[Wandsworth]], London, Shackleton was the younger son of [[Emily Shackleton|Emily Mary]] and Sir [[Ernest Shackleton]], the Antarctic explorer. Edward Shackleton was educated at [[Radley College]], an [[independent school|independent]] [[boarding school]] for boys in [[Oxfordshire]], followed by [[Magdalen College, Oxford]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-lord-shackleton-1450860.html|title=Obituary: Lord Shackleton|author=Tam Dalyell|author-link=Tam Dalyell|work=[[The Independent]] newspaper|date=24 September 1994|access-date=19 November 2014}}</ref>


Shackleton arranged the 1932 [[Oxford University Exploration Club]] expedition to [[Sarawak]] in [[Borneo]] organised by [[Tom Harrisson]]. During this trip, he made the [[first ascent]] of [[Mount Mulu]].
Shackleton arranged the 1932 [[Oxford University Exploration Club]] expedition to [[Sarawak]] in [[Borneo]] organised by [[Tom Harrisson]]. During this trip, he made the [[first ascent]] of [[Mount Mulu]].


In 1934 Shackleton organised the Oxford University [[Ellesmere Land]] Expedition and chose [[Gordon Noel Humphreys]] to lead it. Shackleton accompanied the party as assistant surveyor to Humphreys. The expedition was eventually responsible for naming [[Mount Oxford (Nunavut)|Mount Oxford]] (after the University of Oxford) and the [[British Empire Range]]. On leaving the university, he worked as a Talks Producer for the BBC in [[Northern Ireland]] – an experience that turned him away from the Conservatives towards Labour.
In 1934 Shackleton organised the Oxford University [[Ellesmere Land]] Expedition and chose [[Gordon Noel Humphreys]] to lead it. Shackleton accompanied the party as assistant surveyor to Humphreys. The expedition was eventually responsible for naming [[Mount Oxford (Nunavut)|Mount Oxford]] (after the [[University of Oxford]]) and the [[British Empire Range]]. On leaving the university, he worked as a Talks Producer for the BBC in [[Northern Ireland]] – an experience that turned him away from the Conservatives towards Labour.


===Royal Air Force service===
===Royal Air Force service===
Line 110: Line 111:


==Political life==
==Political life==
Shackleton stood unsuccessfully for Labour at [[Epsom (UK Parliament constituency)|Epsom]] in the [[1945 United Kingdom general election|1945 general election]] and in the [[1945 Bournemouth by-election]]. In 1946, he was elected for Labour as Member of Parliament for [[Preston (UK Parliament constituency)|Preston]] in a by-election. In 1949 he was appointed as [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] (PPS) to the [[Minister of Supply]], [[George Strauss]].
Shackleton stood unsuccessfully for Labour at [[Epsom (UK Parliament constituency)|Epsom]] in the [[1945 United Kingdom general election|1945 general election]] and in the [[1945 Bournemouth by-election]]. In 1946, he was elected for Labour as Member of Parliament for [[Preston (UK Parliament constituency)|Preston]] in a by-election. In 1949 he was appointed as [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] (PPS) to the [[Minister of Supply]], [[George Strauss]].


A boundary change divided Preston into two seats, and in 1950 Shackleton was elected as MP for [[Preston South]] on a much-reduced majority. The following year, he was promoted to be PPS to [[Lord President of the Council]] and [[Foreign Secretary (United Kingdom)|Foreign Secretary]] [[Herbert Morrison]], one of the heavyweight political figures in the post-war government. He was re-elected in 1951.
A boundary change divided Preston into two seats, and in 1950 Shackleton was elected as MP for [[Preston South]] on a much-reduced majority. In the following year he was promoted to be PPS to [[Lord President of the Council]] and [[Foreign Secretary (United Kingdom)|Foreign Secretary]] [[Herbert Morrison]], one of the heavyweight political figures in the post-war government. He was re-elected in 1951.


At the 1955 election, he was defeated. Hugh Gaitskell recommended Shackleton to the Prime Minister, and on 11 August 1958 he was created a [[life peer]] by [[letters patent]] as '''Baron Shackleton''', of [[Burley, Hampshire|Burley]] in the [[County of Southampton]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=41473|date=15 August 1958|page=5077}}</ref> Shackleton delivered his maiden speech in the [[House of Lords]] on 11 November 1958, in a debate on a Wages Councils bill, one he thoroughly approved of and welcomed, to increase understanding between unions and management.
At the 1955 election, he was defeated. Hugh Gaitskell recommended Shackleton to the Prime Minister, and on 11 August 1958 he was created a [[life peer]] by [[letters patent]] as '''Baron Shackleton''', of [[Burley, Hampshire|Burley]] in the [[County of Southampton]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=41473|date=15 August 1958|page=5077}}</ref> Shackleton delivered his maiden speech in the [[House of Lords]] on 11 November 1958, in a debate on a Wages Councils bill, one he thoroughly approved of and welcomed, to increase understanding between unions and management.


In [[Harold Wilson]]'s government, he served as [[Minister of Defence]] for the [[RAF]] 1964–67. He was sworn of the Privy Council in 1966 and made Deputy Leader of the House of Lords a year later. As [[Minister without portfolio (United Kingdom)|Minister without Portfolio]], 1967–1968, and [[Paymaster General]] in 1968, he had a seat on the cabinet. During the [[Aden Emergency]] he was sent on a Special Mission as British Resident to help with the British withdrawal.
In [[Harold Wilson]]'s government, he served as [[Minister of Defence]] for the [[RAF]] from 1964 to 1967. He was sworn of the Privy Council in 1966 and made Deputy Leader of the House of Lords a year later. As [[Minister without portfolio (United Kingdom)|Minister without Portfolio]] in 1967–1968 and [[Paymaster General]] in 1968, he had a seat in the Cabinet. During the [[Aden Emergency]] he was sent on a Special Mission as British Resident to help with the British withdrawal.


In April 1968, after the budget, Wilson made Shackleton Leader of the [[House of Lords]], succeeding the [[Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford|Earl of Longford]].
In April 1968, after the budget, Wilson made Shackleton Leader of the [[House of Lords]], succeeding the [[Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford|Earl of Longford]].


Shackleton was active in Wilson's proposals for [[House of Lords reform]], designed to reduce the Lords delaying powers from two years to just six months, and he liaised between committees and sub-committees, but in April 1969 Wilson dropped the bill to "concentrate on priorities."  Sitting on the committee for Civil Service Reform, Shackleton successfully widened access to entry for scientists.<ref name="ODNB">{{Cite ODNB|id=55707|title=Shackleton, Edward Arthur Alexander, Baron Shackleton}}</ref><ref name="Times obit">{{cite news |title=Lord Shackleton |work=[[The Times]] |date=24 September 1994 |page=21}}</ref>
Shackleton was active in Wilson's proposals for [[House of Lords reform]], designed to reduce the delaying powers of the Lords from two years to just six months, and he liaised between committees and sub-committees, but in April 1969 Wilson dropped the bill to "concentrate on priorities". Sitting on the committee for Civil Service Reform, Shackleton successfully widened access to entry for scientists.<ref name="ODNB">{{Cite ODNB|id=55707|title=Shackleton, Edward Arthur Alexander, Baron Shackleton}}</ref><ref name="Times obit">{{cite news |title=Lord Shackleton |work=[[The Times]] |date=24 September 1994 |page=21}}</ref>


Shackleton remained Leader of the House of Lords until a Conservative government was elected in 1970 and thereafter was Opposition Leader in the Lords.
Shackleton remained Leader of the House of Lords until a Conservative government was elected in 1970 and thereafter was Opposition Leader in the Lords.


From 1971, Shackleton was President of the [[Royal Geographical Society]]. Lord Shackleton was appointed a [[Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter]] in 1974.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=46274|date=26 April 1974|page=5227}}</ref> From 1976 until 1992 he was Chairman of the joint-Political Honours and Scrutiny Committee. Lord Shackleton's report, commissioned by [[James Callaghan]] described the economic future of the Falkland Islands, the value of the being British to the islanders, and how their lot could be improved. It included the invaluable role eventually played by HMS ''Endurance''.
From 1971, Shackleton was President of the [[Royal Geographical Society]]. Lord Shackleton was appointed a [[Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter]] in 1974.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=46274|date=26 April 1974|page=5227}}</ref> From 1976 until 1992 he was Chairman of the joint-Political Honours and Scrutiny Committee. Lord Shackleton's report, commissioned by [[James Callaghan]], described the economic future of the Falkland Islands, the value of the being British to the islanders, and how their lot could be improved. It included the invaluable role eventually played by [[HMS Endurance (1967)|HMS ''Endurance'']].


Between 1988 and 1989 he chaired the Lords Science and Technology Committee and in 1989 was elected a [[Fellow of the Royal Society]] under Statute 12, effectively an honorary fellow.<ref name="Jellicoe 1999">{{cite journal |last1=George |first1=Jellicoe |author-link1=George Jellicoe, 2nd Earl Jellicoe |title=Lord Edward Arthur Alexander Shackleton. 15 July 1911 – 22 September 1994 |journal=[[Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society]] |date=1 November 1999 |volume=45 |pages=485–505 |doi=10.1098/rsbm.1999.0032|s2cid=186214379 }}</ref> He also served as Chairman of the East European Trade Council<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?id=2016-07-07a.2142.0|title = My Lords, it is with a certain}}</ref>
Between 1988 and 1989 he chaired the Lords Science and Technology Committee and in 1989 was elected a [[Fellow of the Royal Society]] under Statute 12, effectively an honorary fellow.<ref name="Jellicoe 1999">{{cite journal |last=Jellicoe |first=George |author-link=George Jellicoe, 2nd Earl Jellicoe |title=Lord Edward Arthur Alexander Shackleton. 15 July 1911 – 22 September 1994 |journal=[[Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society]] |date=1 November 1999 |volume=45 |pages=485–505 |doi=10.1098/rsbm.1999.0032|s2cid=186214379 }}</ref> He also served as Chairman of the East European Trade Council<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?id=2016-07-07a.2142.0|title = My Lords, it is with a certain}}</ref>


In 1990 Shackleton was appointed an honorary Companion of the [[Order of Australia]] (AC), Australia's highest civilian honour, "for service to Australian/British relations, particularly through the [[Britain–Australia Society]].<ref>[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/882096 Profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129123030/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/882096 |date=29 January 2019 }}, itsanhonour.gov.au; accessed 7 April 2016.</ref>
In 1990 Shackleton was appointed an honorary Companion of the [[Order of Australia]] (AC), Australia's highest civilian honour, "for service to Australian/British relations, particularly through the [[Britain–Australia Society]].<ref>[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/882096 Profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129123030/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/882096 |date=29 January 2019 }}, itsanhonour.gov.au; accessed 7 April 2016.</ref>
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{{s-off}}
{{s-off}}
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{{s-bef| before = [[Hugh Fraser (British politician)|Hugh Charles Fraser]]}}
{{s-ttl| title  = [[Secretary of State for Air]]
{{s-ttl| title  = [[Secretary of State for Air]] | years = 1964–1966}}
      | years = 1964–1966 }}
{{s-non| reason = Office abolished }}
{{s-non| reason = Office abolished }}


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{{succession box|title=[[Lord Privy Seal]]|before=[[Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford|The Earl of Longford]]|after=[[Fred Peart]]|years=1968}}
{{succession box|title=[[Lord Privy Seal]]|before=[[Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford|The Earl of Longford]]|after=[[Fred Peart]]|years=1968}}
{{s-vac|last=[[George Wigg]]}}
{{s-vac|last = [[George Wigg]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Paymaster General]]|years=1968}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Paymaster General]]|years=1968}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Judith Hart]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Judith Hart]]}}


{{s-bef| before = [[Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford|The Earl of Longford]]}}
{{s-bef| before = [[Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford|The Earl of Longford]]}}
{{s-ttl| title  = [[Leader of the House of Lords]]
{{s-ttl| title  = [[Leader of the House of Lords]] | years = 1968–1970}}
      | years = 1968–1970 }}
{{s-aft| rows  = 2 | after = [[George Jellicoe, 2nd Earl Jellicoe|The Earl Jellicoe]]}}
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{{s-bef| before = [[Fred Peart]] }}
{{s-ttl| title  = [[Lord Privy Seal]] | years = 1968–1970}}
{{s-ttl| title  = [[Lord Privy Seal]]
      | years = 1968–1970 }}
{{s-ppo}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford|The Earl of Longford]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford|The Earl of Longford]]}}
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[[Category:Presidents of the Royal Geographical Society|Shackleton, Edward Arthur Alexander]]
[[Category:Presidents of the Royal Geographical Society|Shackleton, Edward Arthur Alexander]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society]]
[[Category:Secretaries of State for Air (UK)]]
[[Category:Secretaries of state for air (UK)]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1945–1950]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1945–1950]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1950–1951]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1950–1951]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1951–1955]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1951–1955]]
[[Category:UK MPs who were granted peerages]]
[[Category:UK MPs who were granted peerages]]
[[Category:United Kingdom Paymasters General]]
[[Category:Paymasters general of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Life peers created by Elizabeth II]]
[[Category:Life peers created by Elizabeth II]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force wing commanders]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force wing commanders]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War II]]

Latest revision as of 18:54, 17 November 2025

Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Edward Arthur Alexander Shackleton, Baron Shackleton (15 July 1911 – 22 September 1994) was a British geographer, Royal Air Force officer and Labour Party politician.

Early life and career

Born in Wandsworth, London, Shackleton was the younger son of Emily Mary and Sir Ernest Shackleton, the Antarctic explorer. Edward Shackleton was educated at Radley College, an independent boarding school for boys in Oxfordshire, followed by Magdalen College, Oxford.[1]

Shackleton arranged the 1932 Oxford University Exploration Club expedition to Sarawak in Borneo organised by Tom Harrisson. During this trip, he made the first ascent of Mount Mulu.

In 1934 Shackleton organised the Oxford University Ellesmere Land Expedition and chose Gordon Noel Humphreys to lead it. Shackleton accompanied the party as assistant surveyor to Humphreys. The expedition was eventually responsible for naming Mount Oxford (after the University of Oxford) and the British Empire Range. On leaving the university, he worked as a Talks Producer for the BBC in Northern Ireland – an experience that turned him away from the Conservatives towards Labour.

Royal Air Force service

Shackleton served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. On 29 July 1940, he was commissioned into the Administrative and Special Duties Branch, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, as a pilot officer on probation.[2] On 1 March 1941, he was promoted and granted the war substantive rank of flying officer.[3] Following the probationary period, his commission was confirmed on 29 July 1941.[4] He was promoted to flight lieutenant (temporary) on 1 September 1942,[5] and made a war substantive flight lieutenant on 15 February 1944.[6] He was an acting squadron leader by June 1944,[7] and an acting wing commander by June 1945.[8]

In 1944, Shackleton was mentioned in despatches.[7] In the 1945 King's Birthday Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).[8]

Shackleton relinquished his commission on 15 July 1956 and was granted permission to retain the rank of wing commander.[9]

Political life

Shackleton stood unsuccessfully for Labour at Epsom in the 1945 general election and in the 1945 Bournemouth by-election. In 1946, he was elected for Labour as Member of Parliament for Preston in a by-election. In 1949 he was appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Minister of Supply, George Strauss.

A boundary change divided Preston into two seats, and in 1950 Shackleton was elected as MP for Preston South on a much-reduced majority. In the following year he was promoted to be PPS to Lord President of the Council and Foreign Secretary Herbert Morrison, one of the heavyweight political figures in the post-war government. He was re-elected in 1951.

At the 1955 election, he was defeated. Hugh Gaitskell recommended Shackleton to the Prime Minister, and on 11 August 1958 he was created a life peer by letters patent as Baron Shackleton, of Burley in the County of Southampton.[10] Shackleton delivered his maiden speech in the House of Lords on 11 November 1958, in a debate on a Wages Councils bill, one he thoroughly approved of and welcomed, to increase understanding between unions and management.

In Harold Wilson's government, he served as Minister of Defence for the RAF from 1964 to 1967. He was sworn of the Privy Council in 1966 and made Deputy Leader of the House of Lords a year later. As Minister without Portfolio in 1967–1968 and Paymaster General in 1968, he had a seat in the Cabinet. During the Aden Emergency he was sent on a Special Mission as British Resident to help with the British withdrawal.

In April 1968, after the budget, Wilson made Shackleton Leader of the House of Lords, succeeding the Earl of Longford.

Shackleton was active in Wilson's proposals for House of Lords reform, designed to reduce the delaying powers of the Lords from two years to just six months, and he liaised between committees and sub-committees, but in April 1969 Wilson dropped the bill to "concentrate on priorities". Sitting on the committee for Civil Service Reform, Shackleton successfully widened access to entry for scientists.[11][12]

Shackleton remained Leader of the House of Lords until a Conservative government was elected in 1970 and thereafter was Opposition Leader in the Lords.

From 1971, Shackleton was President of the Royal Geographical Society. Lord Shackleton was appointed a Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter in 1974.[13] From 1976 until 1992 he was Chairman of the joint-Political Honours and Scrutiny Committee. Lord Shackleton's report, commissioned by James Callaghan, described the economic future of the Falkland Islands, the value of the being British to the islanders, and how their lot could be improved. It included the invaluable role eventually played by HMS Endurance.

Between 1988 and 1989 he chaired the Lords Science and Technology Committee and in 1989 was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society under Statute 12, effectively an honorary fellow.[14] He also served as Chairman of the East European Trade Council[15]

In 1990 Shackleton was appointed an honorary Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), Australia's highest civilian honour, "for service to Australian/British relations, particularly through the Britain–Australia Society.[16]

Lord Shackleton was Pro-Chancellor of the University of Southampton, in which role he was deeply interested in the development of geography at Southampton.[14] A portrait photograph of Lord Shackleton was unveiled by his daughter Alexandra Shackleton in December 1997 in the university's Shackleton Building, which houses the Departments of Geography and Psychology.

In 1994 he became the Life President of the newly founded James Caird Society, named after the boat in which his explorer father and crew escaped Antarctica (itself, in turn, named for James Key Caird [1837–1916], jute baron and philanthropist). He acted also as patron of the British Schools Exploring Society (B.S.E.S.) from 1962 until his death in Winchester.

Personal life

In 1938 Shackleton married Betty Homan, and they had two children, Alexandra (born 1940) and Charles (1942–1979).[11]

Arms

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Lord Shackleton's Garter banner, which hung in St. George's Chapel in Windsor during his lifetime, is now on display in Christ Church Cathedral, Falkland Islands.[17]

References

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Bibliography

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External links

Template:S-vacTemplate:S-endTemplate:UK Labour PartyTemplate:Leaders of the Opposition UKTemplate:Paymaster GeneralTemplate:RGSPresidentsTemplate:FRS 1989Template:Authority control
Template:Error
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Member of Parliament for Preston
1946–1950
With: Samuel Segal Template:S-ttl/check 		Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament for Preston South
1950–1955 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Secretary of State for Air
1964–1966 Template:S-ttl/check 		Office abolished
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
1967–1968 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/checkTemplate:Succession box/check Lord Privy Seal
1968 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Paymaster General
1968 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Leader of the House of Lords
1968–1970 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Lord Privy Seal
1968–1970 Template:S-ttl/check
Party political offices
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Leader of the Labour Party in the House of Lords
1968–1974 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Honorary titles
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Senior life peer
1988–1994 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
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  16. ↑ Profile Template:Webarchive, itsanhonour.gov.au; accessed 7 April 2016.
  17. ↑ Lord Shackleton's Garter banner Template:Webarchive, stgeorges-windsor.org, June 2015; accessed 7 April 2016.
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