Leopold Stennett Amery

The Right Honourable Leopold "Leo" Charles Maurice (or Moritz) Stennett Amery, CH (22 November 1873 - 16 September 1955), was a British statesman and Conservative politician.

Related Topics:
The Right Honourable - CH - 22 November - 1873 - 16 September - 1955 - British - Statesman - Conservative - Politician

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He was born in Gorakhpur, India to an English father and a Hungarian Jewish mother who had come to India from England. Her parents had settled in England and converted to Protestantism. Leo Amery was educated at Harrow and Balliol College, Oxford. During the Boer War was a correspondent for The Times, and later edited the Times History of the South African War. In 1911 he was elected as a Conservative MP for Sparkbrook, Birmingham. As an under-secretary in Lloyd George's national government he helped draft the Balfour Declaration (1917). He was First Lord of the Admiralty (1922 - 1924) under Andrew Bonar Law and Stanley Baldwin then later Colonial Secretary (1924 - 1929).

Related Topics:
Gorakhpur - India - Hungarian - Jewish - Protestant - Harrow - Balliol College, Oxford - Boer War - The Times - MP - Sparkbrook - Birmingham - Lloyd George - Balfour Declaration - 1917 - First Lord of the Admiralty - 1922 - 1924 - Andrew Bonar Law - Stanley Baldwin - Colonial Secretary - 1929

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In the 1930's Amery, along with Winston Churchill, was a bitter critic of appeasement, often openly attacking his own party. On 2nd September 1939, after Neville Chamberlain had spoken in a Commons debate and said he would not declare war on Germany immediately for invading Poland, Arthur Greenwood stood up to speak for Labour. Amery, angered by Chamberlain's speech and fearing a purely partisan speech by Greenwood, called out to him across the floor, 'Speak for England, Arthur!'.

Related Topics:
Winston Churchill - Appeasement - 1939 - Neville Chamberlain - Germany - Poland - Arthur Greenwood - Labour

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During the notorious Norway Debate in 1940 he famously attacked Chamberlain's government, quoting Oliver Cromwell at the end:

Related Topics:
Norway Debate - 1940 - Oliver Cromwell

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:You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go.

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During World War II he was Secretary of State for India. At the 1945 general election, he lost his seat to Labour's P Shurmer, a Post Office worker. He was made a Companion of Honour. In retirement, Amery published his autobiography, My Political Life (1955).

Related Topics:
World War II - Secretary of State for India - 1945 general election - Labour - P Shurmer - Companion of Honour - 1955

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Amery distanced himself from his Jewish origins, probably due to anti-Semitism among the British establishment which he sought to join. It is quite likely he never informed his children of their Jewish heritage.

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His son, John Amery (1912 - 1945), had a troubled early life and between 1942 and 1945 made pro-Nazi broadcasts from Berlin. After the war he was tried and executed for treason.

Related Topics:
John Amery - 1912 - 1945 - 1942 - Nazi - Treason

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Another son, Julian Amery (1919 - 1996) was a Conservative politician and served in the cabinets of Harold Macmillan and Edward Heath.

Related Topics:
Julian Amery - 1919 - 1996 - Harold Macmillan - Edward Heath

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