Sir John MacLeod TD (23 February 1913 – 3 June 1984) was a British

army An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by ...

officer, tweed designer, and politician who was a Member of Parliament in the Scottish highlands for 19 years.

Family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

MacLeod's family were from the

Isle of Skye The Isle of Skye, or simply Skye, is the largest and northernmost of the major islands in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate from a mountainous hub dominated by the Cuillin, the rocky slopes of which provide some of ...

where his father owned

Skeabost Skeabost () is a township, at the head of the sea loch, Loch Snizort Beag in the southern end of the Trotternish peninsula on the island of Skye in the Scottish Highlands and is in the Scotland, Scottish council area of Highland Council area, Hig ...

. Jacko, as the family called him, was the youngest son of Duncan MacLeod

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

who had interests in the whisky industry. MacLeod was sent to

Fettes College Fettes College () is a co-educational private boarding and day school in Craigleith, Edinburgh, Scotland, with over two-thirds of its pupils in residence on campus. The school was originally a boarding school for boys only and became co-ed in ...

in Edinburgh for his education. In 1938, he married Rosemary Theodora Hamilton Wills from a

Gloucestershire Gloucestershire ( , ; abbreviated Glos.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by Herefordshire to the north-west, Worcestershire to the north, Warwickshire to the north-east, Oxfordshire ...

family."Marriages", ''The Times'', 9 December 1938. The couple had two sons and three daughters. He managed a center that sold items woven by crofters on the family's land.

Army service

In 1935, MacLeod had joined the

Territorial A territory is an area of land, sea, or space, belonging or connected to a particular country, person, or animal. In international politics, a territory is usually a geographic area which has not been granted the powers of self-government, ...

division of the Cameron Highlanders. During the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, he served as a captain with the

51st Highland Division The 51st (Highland) Division was an infantry division of the British Army that fought on the Western Front in France during the First World War from 1915 to 1918. The division was raised in 1908, upon the creation of the Territorial Force, as ...

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

in 1940 and was taken prisoner in June at

Saint-Valery-en-Caux Saint-Valery-en-Caux (, literally ''Saint-Valery in Pays de Caux, Caux'') is a Communes of France, commune in the Seine-Maritime Departments of France, department in the Normandy (administrative region), Normandy region in northern France. The ad ...

when the Division surrendered. He spent the rest of the war as a

Prisoner of war A prisoner of war (POW) is a person held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold prisoners of war for a ...

Election to Parliament

When repatriated at the end of the war, MacLeod avidly read, ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...

,'' for 3 weeks to get up to speed on British affairs before entering into politics as a candidate for

Ross and Cromarty Ross and Cromarty (), is an area in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. In modern usage, it is a registration county and a Lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area. Between 1889 and 1975 it was a Shires of Scotland, county. Historical ...

in the 1945 general election. MacLeod was adopted by the Ross-shire Liberal Association, which was not affiliated to the

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...

or the National Liberal Party; thereupon, he declared himself a supporter of

Winston Churchill Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British statesman, military officer, and writer who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 (Winston Churchill in the Second World War, ...

F. W. S. Craig Frederick Walter Scott Craig (10 December 1929 – 23 March 1989) was a Scottish psephologist and compiler of the standard reference books covering United Kingdom Parliamentary election results. He originally worked in public relations, compilin ...

, "British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949" (Parliamentary Research Services, 1977). Most of the press designated him as a Liberal National and he faced a straight fight with the Labour Party to succeed

Malcolm MacDonald Malcolm John MacDonald (17 August 1901 – 11 January 1981) was a British politician and diplomat. He was initially a Labour Party (UK), Labour Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP), but in 1931 followed his father ...

. MacLeod had no difficulty in being elected, winning with a majority of 4,102. MacLeod had intended to take the Liberal whip in support of Sir Archie Sinclair, the Liberal leader, who represented the neighbouring constituency, but Sinclair was narrowly defeated in the same election.Memoirs, Jo Grimond (1979)

Parliamentary contributions

MacLeod concentrated on constituency interests including hill farming during his time in Parliament. In 1947, he led the textile group of the Highlands Advisory Panel which organised a tour of the area for the

Secretary of State for Scotland The secretary of state for Scotland (; ), also referred to as the Scottish secretary, is a Secretary of State (United Kingdom), secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with responsibility for the Scotland Office. The incum ...

and a group of experts; their aim was to build up the industry."Survey Of Highlands And Islands", ''The Times'', 16 August 1947. Because of his specialist interests, he was a low-profile MP.

Transport concerns

Starting at the 1950 general election, MacLeod described himself as a "Liberal and Conservative" candidate, the National Liberals having merged with the Conservative Party. From

1951 Events January * January 4 – Korean War: Third Battle of Seoul – Chinese and North Korean forces capture Seoul for the second time (having lost the Second Battle of Seoul in September 1950). * January 9 – The Government of the Uni ...

, he was an official candidate and he backed the Conservatives in Parliament; however, on issues which he felt adversely affected his constituents, he was willing to break party lines. One such issue was transport. In 1954, he joined with 5 other Scottish Conservative MPs to move for the annulment of a 10% increase in rail freight charges."M.P.s move against new freight charges", The Times, 27 February 1954. He was highly critical of

Ernest Marples Alfred Ernest Marples, Baron Marples, (9 December 1907 – 6 July 1978) was a British Conservative politician who served as Postmaster General (1957–1959) and Minister of Transport (1959–1964). As Postmaster General, he oversaw the intro ...

in the early 1960s, asking rhetorically in 1963, "Has the Minister given up on the Highlands altogether?";"Inquiry Into Road Haulage Licensing System", ''The Times'', 30 April 1963. later that year MacLeod abstained, rather than support, the

Beeching Axe The Beeching cuts, also colloquially referred to as the Beeching Axe, were a major series of route closures and service changes made as part of the restructuring of the nationalised railway system in Great Britain in the 1960s. They are named ...

of lesser-used rail services."Six Conservatives Abstain", ''The Times'', 1 May 1963. MacLeod also pressed for better roads and more roads around the highlands, particularly on the basis of improving tourism.Eric Linklater, "Demand For A Road Round The Remote West", ''The Times'', 1 December 1956. In 1960, he moved a motion condemning the state drink monopoly in three Scottish towns (

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Dingwall Dingwall (, ) is a town and a royal burgh in the Highland (council area), Highland council area of Scotland. It has a population of 5,491. It was an east-coast harbour that now lies inland. Dingwall Castle was once the biggest castle north ...

and

Invergordon Invergordon (; or ) is a town and port in Easter Ross, in Ross and Cromarty, Highland (council area), Highland, Scotland. It lies in the parish of Rosskeen. History The town built up around the harbour which was established in 1828. The area ...

) created during the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

and obtained all-party support for its ending."M.P.s Attack State Drink Monopoly", ''The Times'', 21 March 1960.

Defeat

Despite his rebelliousness, MacLeod's standing in his local community was recognised when he was

Knighted A knight is a person granted an honorary title of a knighthood by a head of state (including the pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church, or the country, especially in a military capacity. The concept of a knighthood ...

in the Queen's Birthday Honours List in 1963. He was, however, defeated at the 1964 general election by the

candidate

Alasdair Mackenzie Alasdair Roderick Mackenzie (3 August 1903 – 8 November 1970) was a Scottish farmer and politician who became a Liberal Party member of parliament. A Gaelic speaker, he went to Broadford Junior Secondary School on the Isle of Skye. He became a ...

where he thereupon left politics. He returned to the tweed looms of

Portree Portree (; , ) is the capital and largest town of the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland.W.H. Murray, Murray, W.H. (1966) ''The Hebrides''. London. Heinemann. Pages 154-155. It is a civil parishes in Scotland, civil parish and lies ...

where he designed many new patterns which he continued to sell across the world. MacLeod's later years were dominated by a long illness.

References

Bibliography

*Sir David Wills, "Sir John Macleod" (Obituary), ''The Times'', 10 July 1984. *"Who Was Who", A & C Black

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Macleod, John 1913 births 1984 deaths National Liberal Party (UK, 1931) politicians Independent members of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom People educated at Fettes College Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders officers British Army personnel of World War II Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Highland constituencies UK MPs 1945–1950 UK MPs 1950–1951 UK MPs 1951–1955 UK MPs 1955–1959 UK MPs 1959–1964