George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 01:40, 8 December 2005

Revision as of 01:45, 8 December 2005

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===Foreign Secretary (1919-24)===

Appointed Foreign Secretary from January [[1919]], Curzon gave his name to the British government's proposed Soviet-Polish boundary, the [[Curzon Line]] of December 1919.

=== Passed over for Prime Minister ===

On [[Andrew Bonar Law]]'s retirement as Prime Minister in May [[1923]], Curzon was passed over for the job in favour of [[Stanley Baldwin]]. Many reasons are often cited for this but amongst the most prominent are that Curzon's character was objectionable to many Conservatives, that it was felt to be inappropriate for the Prime Minister to be a member of the [[House of Lords]] (though this did not prevent peers being considered for the premiership on several subsequent occasions) and that in a democratic age it would be dangerous for a party to be led by a rich aristocrat. A letter purporting to detail the opinions of Bonar Law but in actuality written by Baldwin sympathisers was delivered to the King's private secretary, though it is unclear how much impact this had in the final outcome.

On [[Andrew Bonar Law]]'s retirement as Prime Minister in May [[1923]], Curzon was passed over for the job in favour of [[Stanley Baldwin]]. Many reasons are often cited for this but amongst the most prominent are that Curzon's character was objectionable to many Conservatives, that it was felt to be inappropriate for the Prime Minister to be a member of the [[House of Lords]] (though this did not prevent peers being considered for the premiership on several subsequent occasions) and that in a democratic age it would be dangerous for a party to be led by a rich aristocrat. A letter purporting to detail the opinions of Bonar Law but in actuality written by Baldwin sympathisers was delivered to the King's private secretary, though it is unclear how much impact this had in the final outcome.

Curzon remained Foreign Secretary under Baldwin until the government fell in January [[1924]]. When Baldwin formed a new government in November [[1924]] he did not reappoint Curzon as Foreign Secretary but instead as [[Lord President of the Council]]. Curzon held this post until the following March when he died in office. Upon his death the Barony, Earldom and Marquessate of Curzon of Kedleston became extinct, whilst the Viscountcy and Barony of Scarsdale were inherited by a nephew and the Barony of Ravensdale by his eldest daughter.

Curzon remained Foreign Secretary under Baldwin until the government fell in January [[1924]]. When Baldwin formed a new government in November [[1924]], he did not reappoint Curzon as Foreign Secretary but instead as [[Lord President of the Council]]. Curzon held this post until the following March when he died in office. Upon his death the Barony, Earldom and Marquessate of Curzon of Kedleston became extinct, whilst the Viscountcy and Barony of Scarsdale were inherited by a nephew and the Barony of Ravensdale by his eldest daughter.

==Assessment==