Baron Richard Austen Butler, KG, CH, DL, PC, St Mary’s Church, Saffron Walden, Essex, UK
Posted by: bill&ben
N 52° 01.504 E 000° 14.375
31U E 310619 N 5767423
The grave and Garter banner of Baron Richard Austen Butler, KG, CH, DL, PC
Waymark Code: WMBGW8
Location: Eastern England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 05/21/2011
Views: 3
In the corner of St Mary’s graveyard is the grave of the eminent Conservative politician RA Butler. Additionally his banner as a Knight of the Garter can be seen inside St Mary’s Church.
Richard Austen Butler was born on 9th December 1902 in Attock Serai, India into a family of dons and Indian Governors. He was educated at Marlborough College and read French, German and History and International Relations at Pembroke College, Cambridge.
In 1929 he was elected as MP for Saffron Walden, a seat he held until his retirement in 1965. He rose through the ranks of government before the war, first as Under Secretary of State for India, and later as Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. During the war he achieved Cabinet level status as President of the Board of Education, a post that led to the ground breaking Education Act of 1944. After the post war defeat of the Conservatives, Butler helped reshape the party, coming back to power as Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1951. In 1955 he became Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Commons.
During the 1950s Winston Churchill stood down, Anthony Eden took over, but also retired, giving way to the Macmillan era. Butler was a contender in all these leadership changes but lost out due to his association with the pre-war appeasement of Hitler and his involvement in the Suez crisis. Macmillan did, however, bring Butler into his cabinet as Home Secretary, and later as Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State.
In 1963 Macmillan retired from politics and again Butler failed to get the top job, Lord Home being the preferred choice for Prime Minister. Home appointed Butler as Foreign Secretary. Following the Conservative defeat in 1964 he became Master of Trinity College, Cambridge and was awarded a life peerage as Baron Butler of Saffron Walden. At the time he was the longest serving member of the Commons and Father of the House.
Description: One of the most eminent politicians of the 20th century
Date of birth: 12/09/1902
Date of death: 03/08/1982
Area of notoriety: Politics
Marker Type: Horizontal Marker
Setting: Outdoor
Fee required?: No
Web site: [Web Link]
Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Not listed
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