Maurice Bonham-Carter | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister | |
| In office 1910–1916 | |
| Prime Minister | H. H. Asquith |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1880-10-11)11 October 1880 Kensington, London, England |
| Died | 7 June 1960(1960-06-07) (aged 79) |
| Resting place | St Andrew's Church, Mells |
| Party | Liberal |
| Spouse | |
| Relations | Bonham Carter family |
| Children | |
| Alma mater | |
Sir Maurice Bonham-CarterKCB KCVO (11 October 1880 – 7 June 1960)[1] was an EnglishLiberal politician. He wasH. H. Asquith'sPrincipal Private Secretary during Asquith's time asprime minister from 1910 to 1916 and later served in other government posts. He playedcricket forOxford University Cricket Club in the early 20th century. The actressHelena Bonham Carter is his granddaughter.
Bonham-Carter, who was widely known by the nickname "Bongie",[2] was born inKensington, London, on 11 October 1880, into the prominentBonham Carter family.[3] He was the eleventh child born to Sibella Charlotte (née Norman) and Henry Bonham-Carter. His brothers includedGeneral Sir Charles Bonham-Carter, Governor of the Crown Colony of Malta from 1936 to 1940 and the lawyerSir Edgar Bonham-Carter.[4][2]
He was educated atWinchester College andBalliol College, Oxford.[5] He was aright-handed batsman andwicket-keeper forOxford University Cricket Club, playing thirteen times for the team infirst-class cricket matches between 1901 and 1902.[6] He was awarded hiscricket Blue in 1902.[5] His highest score in first-class cricket was 86 for Oxford versusH. D. G. Leveson Gower's XI at the Parks in 1902. Bonham-Carter also played one first-class match forKent County Cricket Club in 1902.[7][8]
He was called to theBar atLincoln's Inn in 1909.[7] Between 1910 and 1916, Bonham-Carter served as thePrincipal Private Secretary to the Prime MinisterH. H. Asquith during Asquith's tenure asprime minister. He travelled around the country with Asquith at the start ofWorld War I and accompanied the Prime Minister when he visited the frontline atYpres in 1915.[9] He also visited Italy and, following theEaster Rising, Ireland with Asquith in 1916. When Asquith was replaced as prime minister byDavid Lloyd George in 1916, Bonham-Carter moved to become Assistant Secretary of theMinistry of Reconstruction and then, in 1918, joined theAir Ministry andRoad Transport Board.[7][9]
He became a leading figure in theBritish Liberal Party and was a "keen supporter of new ideas and imaginative personalities."[2] He was a partner in a firm ofstockbrokers.[7] He also held a number of business directorships with companies including: Aero Engine Ltd, Alpha Cement Ltd, Earls Court Ltd,Blackburn and General Aircraft, Hanworth Securities Ltd,Scophony Ltd,Power Jets Ltd[10] and was a partner with merchant bankers O.T. Falk and Partners, and stockbrokers Buckmaster & Moore.[11]
Bonham-Carter was madeKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in 1916 inAsquith's resignation honours[12] and in the1917 Birthday Honours was made aKnight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO).[9]
On 30 November 1915, he was married toViolet Asquith, daughter of then-British prime ministerH. H. Asquith. As she was later made alife peeress, he and his wife were one of the few couples both of whom held titles in their own right. Together, they had four children:[2]
He died in 1960 aged 79 and is buried in the churchyard atSt Andrew's Church, Mells inSomerset.
Through his eldest daughter Cressida, he was a grandfather to SirAdam Ridley. Through his eldest son Mark, he was a grandfather of three girls, including:Jane Bonham Carter, Baroness Bonham Carter of Yarnbury, the domestic partner ofTim Razzall, Baron Razzall. Through his youngest son Raymond, he was a grandfather to three including:Helena Bonham Carter andEdward Bonham Carter.
