Robert Chapman | |
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| Member of Parliament forHoughton-le-Spring | |
| In office 1931–1935 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Richardson |
| Succeeded by | William Stewart |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1880-03-03)3 March 1880 |
| Died | 31 July 1963(1963-07-31) (aged 83) Undercliff,Cleadon,Sunderland, England |
| Party | Conservative |
| Spouse | Hélène Paris MacGowan |
| Children | Sir Robert MacGowan Chapman, 2nd Baronet Henry James Nicholas Chapman |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Service years | 1902–1937 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Service number | 7749 |
| Unit | Royal Artillery |
| Commands | 4th Durham Howitzer Brigade |
| Conflicts | First World War |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order Territorial Decoration Efficiency Decoration Légion d'honneur Mention in Despatches (x4) |
Sir Robert Chapman, 1st BaronetCB, CMG, CBE, DSO, OStJ, TD, JP, DL(3 March 1880 – 31 July 1963) was a British soldier andConservative Party politician.
Chapman was the son of Henry Chapman, a Chartered Accountant and prominent businessman in South Shields, and Dora Gibson. He was educated atSouth Shields High School, Robert was one of seven brothers who went to the school, and came to be School Captain in 1896. He left to go to London University, where he gained a BA. When he finished at university he joined the family's accountancy firm.
Chapman commissioned into the 3rd Durham Royal Garrison Artillery in 1902, becoming a Captain in 1904. In 1908, upon the creation of theTerritorial Force his unit was transferred to theRoyal Field Artillery, becoming the4th Durham (Howitzer) Brigade, after which he was promoted to the rank of Major in December 1908 (with authority dated 1 April 1908),[1] thus taking command of his unit. He served in theFirst World War, reaching the rank ofLieutenant Colonel and being awarded theDistinguished Service Order in 1916.[2] In 1917 he was awarded the Legion 'd'Honneur.[3] He was appointed aCompanion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1918.[4] He was awarded aTerritorial Decoration in 1919.[5] He became a Brevet Colonel in 1924 and substantive Colonel in 1925. He became the Honorary Colonel of his former regiment in 1935, retiring from the army in 1937. He was awarded theEfficiency Decoration in 1955.[6]
In 1921, Chapman was elected to be one of the first Councillors for the new Harton Ward, in the same year he was appointedDeputy Lieutenant for County Durham.[7] In 1931 he became Mayor of South Shields. He was elected at the1931 general election asMember of Parliament (MP) for theHoughton-le-Spring constituency inCounty Durham. It was usually asafe seat for theLabour, but fell to the Conservatives as one of their many gains that year, when Labour split over budgetary policy andRamsay MacDonald formed aNational Government.
Chapman was defeated by the Labour candidate at the1935 general election, and did not stand forParliament again. He wasHigh Sheriff of Durham in 1940. On 8 June 1944 he was appointed aCompanion of the Order of the Bath,[8] and on 1 January 1945 he was created aCommander of the Order of the British Empire.[9] In 1949, he was created Vice-Lieutenant of County Durham.[10] On 14 March 1950 he was appointedknight bachelor,[11] he was appointed an Officer of the Order of St John on 23 June 1950.[12] On 30 January 1958 he was created abaronet, ofCleadon in theCounty of Durham.[13]
Chapman married Hélène Paris (1894–1980), daughter of James George MacGowan, in 1909. He died on 31 July 1963, aged 83, and was succeeded in the baronetcy by his eldest son Robert.
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| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forHoughton-le-Spring 1931–1935 | Succeeded by |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by | High Sheriff of Durham 1940–1941 | Succeeded by Harold Kitching |
| Baronetage of the United Kingdom | ||
| New creation | Baronet (of Cleadon) 1958–1963 | Succeeded by |