Sir Charles Clow Tennant, 1st Baronet, (4 November 1823 – 4 June 1906) was a Scottish businessman,

industrialist A business magnate, also known as an industrialist or tycoon, is a person who is a powerful entrepreneur and investor who controls, through personal enterprise ownership or a dominant shareholding position, a firm or industry whose goods or ser ...

and Liberal politician.

Early life

Tennant was the son of John Tennant (1796–1878) and Robina (

née The birth name is the name of the person given upon their birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name or to the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a births registe ...

Arrol) Tennant. His grandfather was the chemist and industrialist

Charles Tennant Charles Tennant (3 May 1768 – 1 October 1838) was a Scottish chemist and industrialist. He discovered Calcium hypochlorite, bleaching powder and founded an industrial dynasty. Biography Charles Tennant was born at Laigh Corton, Alloway, Ayrs ...

Career

In 1843, he entered the

St Rollox chemical works St Rollox Chemical Works was an industrial manufacturer of chemicals located in Glasgow, Scotland, that began in 1799 and operated continuously until 1964. It was created by Scottish industrialist Charles Tennant and owned and operated by his f ...

, Glasgow which had been established by his grandfather

Charles Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English language, English and French language, French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic, Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''* ...

to produce bleaching powder and other chemicals, and went on to become the largest alkali works in Europe. Sir Charles Tennant was a global industrialist, with business across many continents in railways, steel, explosives, copper, sulphur and merchant banking. Tennant served as President of the

United Alkali Company United Alkali Company Limited was a British chemical company formed in 1890, employing the Leblanc process to produce soda ash for the glass, textile, soap, and paper industries. It became one of the top four British chemical companies merged in ...

which would become a cornerstone of

Imperial Chemical Industries Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) was a British Chemical industry, chemical company. It was, for much of its history, the largest manufacturer in Britain. Its headquarters were at Millbank in London. ICI was listed on the London Stock Exchange ...

becoming extremely wealthy in the process while being a supporter of political reform, and a major collector of art. Tennant also became Chairman of the

Union Bank of Scotland The Bank of Scotland plc (Scottish Gaelic: ''Banca na h-Alba'') is a commercial and clearing bank based in Edinburgh, Scotland, and is part of the Lloyds Banking Group. The bank was established by the Parliament of Scotland in 1695 to devel ...

and was the driving force in establishing C. Tennant, Sons & Company as a merchant bank in the City of London. Tennant also sat as Member of Parliament (MP) for

Glasgow Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...

from 1879 to 1880 and for Peebles and Selkirk from 1880 to 1886. He unsuccessfully contested

Partick Partick (, Scottish Gaelic: ''Partaig'') is an area of Glasgow on the north bank of the River Clyde, just across from Govan. To the west lies Whiteinch, to the east Yorkhill and Kelvingrove Park (across the River Kelvin), and to the north Broo ...

at a by-election in 1890. He was appointed Honorary Colonel of the

4th (Glasgow, 1st Northern) Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteer Corps The 4th (Glasgow, 1st Northern) Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteer Corps was a Scotland, Scottish Volunteer Force, Volunteer unit of the British Army. Originally raised in Glasgow in 1859, it later became a battalion of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) ...

(later 4th Volunteer Battalion, The

Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) was a rifle regiment of the British Army, the only regiment of rifles amongst the Scottish regiments of infantry. It was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 26th Cameronian Reg ...

) in 1880. He was also a Trustee of the

National Gallery The National Gallery is an art museum in Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, in Central London, England. Founded in 1824, it houses a collection of more than 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900. The current di ...

and was appointed a Member of the

Tariff Commission The Tariff Commission was a 1903 initiative in the United Kingdom to examine and promote proposals for tariff reform, which would protect British companies, and those of the British Empire, by imposing tariffs on foreign imports. The Commission w ...

in 1904. In 1885, he was created a Baronet and held the office of Justice of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenant. Tennant was chairman of Nobel Explosives Company from 1900 to 1906.

Personal life

Tennant was twice married. His first marriage was to Emma Winsloe (1821–1895), daughter of Richard Winsloe of Mount Nebo, Taunton, in 1849. In 1852, he purchased The Glen, an estate in southern Scotland, and commissioned architect

David Bryce David Bryce Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, FRSE FRIBA Royal Scottish Academy, RSA (3 April 1803 – 7 May 1876) was a Scotland, Scottish architect. Life Bryce was born at 5 South College Street in Edinburgh, the son of David B ...

to design a new house, which was completed in 1855. Together, they were the parents of eight children, including:Mosley, Charles, editor. ''Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 106th edition, 2 volumes.'' Crans,

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 1999. p. 145. * Pauline Emma "Posie" Tennant (1855–1888), who married Thomas Duff Gordon-Duff, 9th of Drummuir and 11th of Park, son of Lachlan Gordon-Duff. * Charlotte Monckton "Charty" Tennant (1858–1911), who married

Thomas Lister, 4th Baron Ribblesdale Thomas Lister, 4th Baron Ribblesdale (29 October 1854 – 21 October 1925) was a British Liberal Party (UK), Liberal politician. Early life Thomas Lister was born on 29 October 1854 in Fontainebleau, France, the eldest son of Thomas Lister, 3rd ...

. *

Edward Priaulx Tennant Edward Priaulx Tennant, 1st Baron Glenconner (31 May 1859 – 21 November 1920), known as Sir Edward Tennant, 2nd Baronet from 1906 to 1911, was a Scottish businessman and Liberal Party (UK), Liberal politician. In 1911 he was raised to the p ...

(1859–1920), who married Pamela Wyndham, a daughter of Percy Wyndham MP. * Katharine ''Lucy'' Tennant (1860–1942), who married Thomas Graham Smith in 1879. * Francis John "Frank" Tennant (1861–1942), who married Annie Geraldine Redmayne, daughter of John Marriner Redmayne of South Dene. * Octavia ''Laura'' Mary Tennant (1862–1886), who married

Alfred Lyttelton Alfred Lyttelton KC (7 February 1857 – 5 July 1913) was a British politician and sportsman from the Lyttelton family who excelled at both football and cricket. During his time at university he participated in Varsity Matches in five sport ...

. *

Margot Tennant Emma Alice Margaret Asquith, Countess of Oxford and Asquith (' Tennant; 2 February 1864 – 28 July 1945), known as Margot Asquith, was a British socialite and author. She was married to British Prime Minister H. H. Asquith from 1894 to his ...

(1864–1945), who was a socialite and author and the second wife of Prime Minister

H. H. Asquith Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith (12 September 1852 – 15 February 1928) was a British statesman and Liberal Party (UK), Liberal politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1908 to 1916. He was the last ...

. * Harold John "Jack" Tennant (1865–1935), who became a Liberal politician and married factory inspector May Abraham in 1896. After her death in 1895 he was remarried to Marguerite Agaranthe Miles (1868–1943), daughter of Charles William Miles and cousin of Sir Philip Miles, in 1898. His second wife was a talented amateur musician and he bought the Lady Tennant Stradivarius for her as a gift. Together, they were the parents of four children, including: * Margaret Tennant (1899–1994), who married

John Loder, 2nd Baron Wakehurst John de Vere Loder, 2nd Baron Wakehurst, (5 February 1895 – 30 October 1970) was a British Army officer, politician and colonial administrator. After serving in the army, the Foreign Office, and as a Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) in t ...

. * Jean Tennant (1900–1910), who died in childhood. *

Katharine Tennant Katharine Elliot, Baroness Elliot of Harwood, DBE (née Tennant; 15 January 1903 – 3 January 1994) was a British public servant and politician. Early life Born Katharine Tennant in 1903, she was the daughter of the Scottish industrialis ...

(1903–1994), who married Walter Elliot and was created Baroness Elliot of Harwood in her own right. * Nancy Tennant (1904–1969), who married Sylvester Govett Gates, Controller, Ministry of Information. She later married

Thomas Dugdale, 1st Baron Crathorne Thomas Lionel Dugdale, 1st Baron Crathorne, (20 July 1897 – 26 March 1977), known as Sir Thomas Dugdale, 1st Baronet, from 1945 to 1959, was a British Conservative Party politician. He resigned as a government minister over the Crichel D ...

, in 1936. Sir Charles died in June 1906 in Broadoaks,

Byfleet Byfleet is a village in Surrey, England. It is located in the far east of the borough of Woking, around east of West Byfleet, from which it is separated by the M25 motorway and the Wey Navigation. The village is of medieval origin. Its win ...

Surrey Surrey () is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Greater London to the northeast, Kent to the east, East Sussex, East and West Sussex to the south, and Hampshire and Berkshire to the wes ...

, aged 82. He was succeeded in the baronetcy by his son

Edward Edward is an English male name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortunate; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”. History The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-S ...

, who was later raised to the peerage as

Baron Glenconner Baron Glenconner, of The Glen in the County of Peebles, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1911 for Sir Edward Tennant, 2nd Baronet, who had earlier represented Salisbury in the House of Commons as a Liberal and ...

in 1911. His widow, Lady Tennant, died in 1943. Sir Charles became one of the oldest men on record to father children, with his four children born to Marguerite Mills while he was between the ages of 76-80.

Descendants

Through his son Francis, he was a grandfather of Kathleen Tennant, who became the Duchess of Rutland through her 1916 marriage to

John Manners, 9th Duke of Rutland Captain John Henry Montagu Manners, 9th Duke of Rutland (21 August 1886 – 22 April 1940), styled as Marquess of Granby from 1906 to 1925, was an English peer and medieval art expert. Early life and education Rutland was the younger son of He ...

. His great-granddaughter Lady Ursula Manners served as a maid of honour to the queen at the

Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The coronation of the British monarch, coronation of George VI and his wife, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Elizabeth, as King of the United Kingdom, king and List of British royal consorts, queen of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth realm, ...

in 1937.,

Arms

The

Lord Lyon The Right Honourable the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new gran ...

granted Sir Charles arms in 1885. His arms are impaled with the arms of his son-in-law, Walter Elliot, in the arms of his daughter,

Katharine Elliot, Baroness Elliot of Harwood Katharine Elliot, Baroness Elliot of Harwood, Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, DBE (née Tennant; 15 January 1903 – 3 January 1994) was a British public servant and politician. Early life Born Katharine Tennant in 1903, ...

References

External links

*
Sir Charles Clow Tennant, 1st Bt
at the

National Portrait Gallery, London The National Portrait Gallery (NPG) is an art gallery in London that houses a collection of portraits of historically important and famous British people. When it opened in 1856, it was arguably the first national public gallery in the world th ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tennant, Charles Clow 1823 births 1906 deaths Scottish industrialists Scottish bankers Scottish company founders 19th-century Scottish businesspeople 20th-century Scottish businesspeople Baronets in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom Scottish Liberal Party MPs Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Scottish constituencies Charles Clow UK MPs 1874–1880 UK MPs 1880–1885 UK MPs 1885–1886 Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Glasgow constituencies