Peter Fredirick Blaker Bennett, 1st Baron Bennett of Edgbaston (16 April 1880 – 27 September 1957) known as Sir Peter Bennett between 1941 and 1953, was a British businessman and Conservative Party politician.

Background and education

Bennett was the son of Frederick C. Bennett and Annie (née Blaker), and educated at

King Edward's School, Birmingham King Edward's School (KES) is an independent school (UK), independent day school for boys in the British Public school (UK), public school tradition, located in Edgbaston, Birmingham. Founded by Edward VI of England, King Edward VI in 1552, it ...

, and the

University of Birmingham The University of Birmingham (informally Birmingham University) is a Public university, public research university in Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Queen's College, Birmingham (founded in 1825 as ...

Business career

Bennett was chairman and managing director of Joseph Lucas Ltd and also served as a justice of the peace for

Sutton Coldfield Sutton Coldfield or the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield ( ), is a town and civil parish in the city of Birmingham, West Midlands County, West Midlands, England. The town lies around 8 miles northeast of Birmingham city centre, 9 miles south of L ...

. He was appointed an

Officer of the Order of the British Empire 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 ...

(OBE) in 1918, and

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 1941.

Political career

Bennett was elected as member of parliament (MP) for Birmingham Edgbaston at an unopposed by-election in December 1940 following the death of the sitting MP, former Prime Minister

Neville Chamberlain Arthur Neville Chamberlain (; 18 March 18699 November 1940) was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from May 1937 to May 1940 and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party from ...

. He held the seat in the general elections of 1945, 1950 and 1951. He served under

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, ...

as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and National Service between 1951 and 1952. On 1 July 1953 he was elevated to the

peerage A peerage is a legal system historically comprising various hereditary titles (and sometimes Life peer, non-hereditary titles) in a number of countries, and composed of assorted Imperial, royal and noble ranks, noble ranks. Peerages include: A ...

as Baron Bennett of Edgbaston, of Sutton Coldfield in the County of Warwick.

Personal life

Lord Bennett of Edgbaston married Agnes, daughter of Joseph Palmer, in 1907. The union was childless. Lord Bennett died in 1957, aged 77, when the title became extinct. His widow, Agnes, Lady Bennett of Edgbaston, died in 1969. They lived at Ardencote, Luttrell Road, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bennett, Peter 1880 births 1957 deaths Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies UK MPs 1935–1945 UK MPs 1945–1950 UK MPs 1950–1951 UK MPs 1951–1955 UK MPs who were granted peerages Officers of the Order of the British Empire Knights Bachelor People from Sutton Coldfield Alumni of the University of Birmingham Ministers in the third Churchill government, 1951–1955 Hereditary barons created by Elizabeth II