Thomas McKinnon Wood | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Financial Secretary to the Treasury | |
| In office 23 October 1911 – 13 February 1912 | |
| Monarch | George V |
| Prime Minister | H. H. Asquith |
| Preceded by | Charles Hobhouse |
| Succeeded by | Charles Masterman |
| In office 9 July 1916 – 5 December 1916 | |
| Monarch | George V |
| Prime Minister | H. H. Asquith |
| Preceded by | Edwin Montagu |
| Succeeded by | Sir Hardman Lever, Bt |
| Secretary for Scotland | |
| In office 13 February 1912 – 9 July 1916 | |
| Monarch | George V |
| Prime Minister | H. H. Asquith |
| Preceded by | The Lord Pentland |
| Succeeded by | Harold Tennant |
| Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster | |
| In office 9 July 1916 – 5 December 1916 | |
| Monarch | George V |
| Prime Minister | H. H. Asquith |
| Preceded by | Edwin Montagu |
| Succeeded by | Sir Frederick Cawley, Bt |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1855-01-26)26 January 1855 London |
| Died | 26 March 1927(1927-03-26) (aged 72) |
| Nationality | British |
| Party | Liberal |
| Spouse | Isabella Sandison |
| Alma mater | University College, London |
Thomas McKinnon WoodPC (26 January 1855 – 26 March 1927) was a BritishLiberal politician.[1][2][3] A supporter of social reform[4] who was regarded as having "sound Progressive credentials,"[5] he served as a member ofH. H. Asquith's cabinet asSecretary of State for Scotland between 1912 and 1916 and asFinancial Secretary to the Treasury andChancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster between July and December 1916. He was also involved in London politics and served asChairman of the London County Council between 1898 and 1899.
Born inStepney, Wood was the only son of Hugh Wood, a merchant and shipowner, by his second wife Jessie McKinnon, daughter of Reverend Thomas McKinnon.[1][2] His father had been born inOrkney, where his father was a farmer, but had later settled in London.[2] Wood was educated at theBrewers' Company School,Aldenham, Hertfordshire,Mill Hill School, andUniversity College, London. He graduated in 1875 with honours in logic and moral philosophy.[1][2] After graduating, he worked briefly on the 9th edition of theEncyclopædia Britannica,[2] before joining the family business in 1878, after his father lost his sight.[2] Although "McKinnon" was officially his middle name, as an adult he generally used "McKinnon Wood" as adouble-barrelled surname.[6][7][8]
McKinnon Wood was a member of theLondon County Council for Central Hackney from 1892 to 1909.[1] From 1897 to 1908 he was leader of theProgressive Party and also served as chairman of the council from 1898 to 1899.[1][2] In 1907 he was appointedalderman, a post he held until 1909.[2] He was appointed aDeputy Lieutenant for the County of London in 1899.[2]
McKinnon Wood stood unsuccessfully as a parliamentary candidate forEast Islington in 1895,[1]Glasgow St. Rollox in 1900[1] andOrkney and Shetland in 1902.[1] However, in 1906 he was elected forGlasgow St Rollox as aLiberal, a seat he held until 1918.[9] In April 1908 McKinnon Wood was appointedParliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education in the administration ofH. H. Asquith, a post he held until October of the same year, when he becameUnder-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.[2]
In 1911 he was madeFinancial Secretary to the Treasury and admitted to thePrivy Council.[10] The following year he was promoted toSecretary for Scotland[11] with a seat in the cabinet. He continued in this post also when the war-time coalition was formed in May 1915. His integrity was called into question over the 1908 -1919Oscar Slater case and inquiries into his false conviction for murder.[citation needed] In July 1916 he was appointedChancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster andFinancial Secretary to the Treasury. The latter post was considered very important in the war-time situation, and was not seen as a demotion.
However, whenLloyd George became prime minister in December 1916, McKinnon Wood was not offered a post in the government.[2] By the time thegeneral election of December 1918 was held, McKinnon Wood was an anti-coalition Asquith Liberal. In common with most of the Liberals who did not receive the "Coalition Coupon" he lost his seat, which was gained byGideon Oliphant-Murray of theConservative Party.[2] He made one attempt to re-enter the Commons when he stood unsuccessfully forHackney Central in1922.[1][2]
McKinnon Wood married Isabella Sandison, daughter of Alexander Sandison, in 1883.[1] They had eight children, six sons and two daughters. Two sons and one daughter predeceased him.[1] McKinnon Wood died inSouth Kensington two weeks after his wife in March 1927, aged 72.[1][2][3] Following a funeral service atWhitefield's Tabernacle, Tottenham Court Road, McKinnon Wood was buried in a family vault on the eastern side ofHighgate Cemetery[3] (plot no.31039), opposite the grave ofGeorge Eliot. He left an estate valued at £130,372.[2]
McKINNON WOOD.—1st inst., at Starfield, Crowborough, Lorna Isabel McKinnon Wood, younger daughter of Thomas and Isabella McKinnon Wood, aged 17 years.
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament for Glasgow St Rollox 1906–1918 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Chairman of the London County Council 1898–1899 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education 1908 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs 1908–1911 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Financial Secretary to the Treasury 1911–1912 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Secretary for Scotland 1912–1916 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster July–December 1916 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Financial Secretary to the Treasury July–December 1916 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Leader of theProgressive Party 1898–1908 | Succeeded by |
| Secretaries of state for Scotland 1707–1746 | .svg) | |
|---|---|---|
| Secretaries for Scotland 1885–1926 | ||
| Secretaries of state for Scotland (pre-devolution) 1926–1999 | ||
| Secretaries of state for Scotland (post-devolution) 1999–present | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
