Sir Robert Vaughan Gower (10 November 1880 – 6 March 1953) was a British

solicitor A solicitor is a legal practitioner who traditionally deals with most of the legal matters in some jurisdictions. A person must have legally-defined qualifications, which vary from one jurisdiction to another, to be described as a solicitor and ...

and Conservative Party politician from Kent. He sat in the House of Commons from 1924 to 1945. He was most remembered for his work on behalf of animals; he served as chairman of the RSPCA for 23 years before being elected president.

Early life

The son of Joshua Robert Gower of Tunbridge Wells, and his wife Kate, daughter of John Fagge of Tonbridge, Robert Gower was admitted a solicitor in 1904. He was educated privately. In 1903, he obtained honours in the final examination of the Law Society. His younger daughter, Pauline Gower, headed the female branch of the Air Transport Auxiliary during the Second World War.

Career

Mayor of Tunbridge Wells in 1918–1919, it was announced in the

1919 Birthday Honours The 1919 Birthday Honours were appointments by King George V to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of the British Empire. The appointments were made to celebrate the official birthday of The King, and were ...

that he was to be

knighted A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...

for support he had given to a scheme for preserving businesses in the absence of those serving in World War I, The title was conferred in a ceremony at

Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace () is a London royal residence and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality. It ...

on 18 August 1919. He had previously been made an

Officer of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

(OBE) in the

1919 New Year Honours The 1919 New Year Honours were appointments by King George V to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of the British Empire. The appointments were published in ''The London Gazette'' and ''The Times'' in Jan ...

. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. He was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Hackney Central at the 1924 general election, a seat which had been held by the Liberal Party since

1906 Events January–February * January 12 – Persian Constitutional Revolution: A nationalistic coalition of merchants, religious leaders and intellectuals in Persia forces the shah Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar to grant a constitution, ...

. He did not contest Hackney Central at the 1929 general election, when he was elected as the MP for Gillingham in Kent. He held the seat until he retired from the Commons at the

1945 general election The following elections occurred in the year 1945. Africa * 1945 South-West African legislative election Asia * 1945 Indian general election Australia * 1945 Fremantle by-election Europe * 1945 Albanian parliamentary election * 1945 Bulgaria ...

Animal welfare activism

Gower's career was most noted for his service on behalf of animals. From 1929 until his retirement in 1945, he served as chairman of the Animal Welfare Committee in Parliament. He introduced several measures and laws to protect animals, including the Protection of Animals (Cruelty to Dogs) Act of 1933, the Protection of Animals Act of 1934, the Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act of 1937, and the Dogs Act of 1938. Gower served as chairman of the RSPCA for 23 years, and in 1951 was elected president of the organisation. He was also a founding member and president of the Pit Ponies Protection Society, and was chairman and honorary treasurer of the National Canine Defence League.

Personal life

Robert Gower married Dorothy Susie Eleanor Wills (1882-1936). They had two daughters, Dorothy Vaughan Gower and Pauline Mary de Peauly Gower. The family lived at Sandown Court in Tunbridge Wells. Gower died on 6 March 1953 and was buried in the family tomb with his wife Dorothy and daughter Pauline who predeceased him.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Gower, Robert Vaughan 1880 births 1953 deaths British animal welfare workers Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies Hackney Members of Parliament UK MPs 1924–1929 UK MPs 1929–1931 UK MPs 1931–1935 UK MPs 1935–1945 Mayors of places in Kent Officers of the Order of the British Empire Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Fellows of the Royal Geographical Society