John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir

John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir (August 26, 1875 – February 11, 1940), was a Scottish novelist and politician who served as Governor General of Canada.

Early Life

Born in Perth, Scotland, he was educated at Glasgow University and Brasenose College, Oxford, winning the Newdigate prize for poetry while a student at the latter. He had a genius for friendship which he retained all his life. His friends at Oxford included Hilaire Belloc, Raymond Asquith and Aubrey Herbert.

Related Topics:
Perth, Scotland - Glasgow University - Brasenose College, Oxford - Newdigate prize - Poetry - Hilaire Belloc - Raymond Asquith - Aubrey Herbert

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Buchan at first entered into a career in law in 1901, but almost immediately moved into politics, becoming private secretary to British colonial admnistrator Alfred Milner, who was high commissioner for South Africa, Governor of Cape Colony and colonial administrator of Transvaal and the Orange Free State—hence Buchan gained an acquaintance with the country that was to feature prominently in his writing. Buchan married Susan Charlotte Grosvenor, cousin of the Duke of Westminster, on July 15, 1907. Together they had four children, two of whom would spend most of their lives in Canada.

Related Topics:
1901 - British colonial - Alfred Milner - High commissioner - South Africa - Governor - Cape Colony - Transvaal - Orange Free State - Duke of Westminster - July 15 - 1907 - Canada

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During World War I, he was a correspondent for The Times in France before becoming Director of Information under Lord Beaverbrook in 1917. After the war he began to write on historical subjects, and became president of the Scottish Historical Society. He was twice High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and in a 1927 by-election was elected a Conservative Member of Parliament for the Scottish Universities. In 1935 he became Governor General of Canada and was created Baron Tweedsmuir. Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King had wanted him to go to Canada as a commoner, but King George V insisted on being represented by a peer.

Related Topics:
World War I - The Times - France - Lord Beaverbrook - 1917 - Scottish Historical Society - Church of Scotland - 1927 - By-election - Conservative - Member of Parliament - Scottish Universities - 1935 - Canadian Prime Minister - William Lyon Mackenzie King - George V - Peer

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