Scope and Contents
The collection, though small, is interesting as no other papers appear to have been left by Hore-Belisha. It comprises letters, diaries, some photographs and documents (mainly copies) covering most of Hore-Belisha's career but concentrating on his most important position as War Minister from 1937-1939 and particularly the events surrounding his dismissal by Neville Chamberlain.
Dates
- Creation: 1928 - 1981
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for consultation by researchers using Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge. Individual closures of files are indicated in the catalogue.
Biographical / Historical
7 September 1893: Born, son of Captain and Mrs J I Belisha
June 1894: Belisha's father died
1912: Belisha's mother married Sir Adair Hore, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Pensions. Belisha took name Hore-Belisha. Educated Clifton College, Bristol, Paris, Heidelberg and St John's College, Oxford. President of Oxford Union Society
1914-1918: Served in Royal Fusiliers Public School Battalion and RASC in France, Flanders and Salonika; Major; mentioned in despatches.
1919: Invalided out. Returned to Oxford. MA
1923: Called to the Bar, Inner Temple
1923-1942: MP for Devonport as Liberal Nationalist
1931-1932: Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade
1932-1934: Financial Secretary to the Treasury
1934-1937: Minister of Transport
1935: Privy Councillor
October 1936: Seat in Cabinet
December 1936: Lady Hore died
1937-1940: Secretary of State for War and President of Army Council
1939-1940: Member of War Cabinet
1942-1945: MP for Devonport as Independent.
1944: Married Cynthia, daughter of Gilbert Elliot of Kent.
May-July 1945: Minister of National Insurance
1947: Member of Westminster City Council
1950: Unsuccessfully contested Croydon as Conservative
1954: Created 1st Baron, Hore-Belisha of Devonport
16 February 1957: Died at Rheims
Extent
12 archive box(es)
Language of Materials
English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection of the papers of Leslie Hore-Belisha, 1st Baron Hore-Belisha of Devonport was purchased at public auction in March 1985 for Churchill College with the aid of generous grants from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Friends of the National Libraries and the Victoria and Albert Museum Purchase Grant Fund.
Bibliography
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Churchill Archives Centre Repository
Churchill Archives Centre
Churchill College
Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB3 0DS United Kingdom
+44 (0)1223 336087
archives@chu.cam.ac.uk