Florence Horsbrugh

Florence Gertrude Horsbrugh, Baroness Horsbrugh (13 October 1889 - 6 December 1969) was a British Conservative politician.

Related Topics:
13 October - 1889 - 6 December - 1969 - Conservative

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She was educated at Lansdowne House, Edinburgh, St Hilda?s, Folkestone, and Mills College, California.

Related Topics:
Edinburgh - Folkestone - California

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She was a Member of Parliament for Dundee from 1931 until her defeat in 1945. She unsuccessfully contested Midlothian and Peebles in 1950 and sat for Manchester Moss-side from 1950 until her retirement in 1959. On retirement she was elevated to the House of Lords, as Baroness Horsbrugh, where she sat until her death.

Related Topics:
Member of Parliament - Dundee - Midlothian and Peebles

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She held ministerial office in the wartime coalition governments as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (1939-45), Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (1945). Following her return to the House of Commons she was the first woman to hold a Cabinet post in a Conservative government when appointed Minister of Education from 1951 to 1954. She also served as a delegate to the Council of Europe and Western European Union from 1955 until 1960.

Related Topics:
Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health - Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food - Minister of Education - Council of Europe - Western European Union

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She was always interested in child welfare and as a private member introduced the bill which became the Adoption of Children (Regulation) Act 1939. She also did a lot of preparatory work on the scheme which eventually became the National Health Service.

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She was awarded the MBE in 1920, promoted to CBE in 1939, and to GBE in 1954. She was appointed a Privy Counsellor in 1945.

Related Topics:
MBE - Privy Counsellor

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