Ralph Edward Blackett Beaumont CBE, TD, DL, JP (12 February 1901 – 18 September 1977)[1] styled The Honourable from 1907, was a British soldier and Conservative Party politician.
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Born at Belgrave Square in London, he was the second son of Wentworth Beaumont, 1st Viscount Allendale and his wife Lady Alexandrina Louise Maud Vane-Tempest, daughter of George Vane-Tempest, 5th Marquess of Londonderry.[2] His older brother was Wentworth Beaumont, 2nd Viscount Allendale.[2] Beaumont was educated in Eton College and went then to Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1923 and with a Master of Arts in 1953.
He joined the British Army and was promoted to a second lieutenant of the Royal Welch Fusiliers in 1931.[3] Beaumont became lieutenant in 1934[4] and captain with the begin of the Second World War in 1939.[5] He was finally advanced to lieutenant-colonel in 1947.[6]
Beaumont received the Territorial Decoration in 1948[7] and an additional clasp two years later.[8] Having reached the age limit in 1956, he left the Army.[9]
He stood unsuccessfully for Cannock in 1929.[10] Beaumont entered the British House of Commons in 1931, sitting as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Portsmouth Central until the war's end in 1945.[11] During this time he was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Postmaster-General in 1935, a post he held until 1940, and to the Secretary of State for War in 1942 until his defeat in the general election three years later.[12] From 1952, he worked as a Development Commissioner.[13]
Beaumont was nominated High Sheriff of Montgomeryshire in 1957, representing the county also as Justice of the Peace.[13] He was chairman of the Montgomeryshire County Agriculture Executive Committee and served as a member of the Council on Tribunals from 1958.[13] Having been previously a Deputy Lieutenant, he became Vice Lord Lieutenant of Montgomeryshire in 1962 until his death in 1977.[10] Beaumont was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year's Honours 1967.[14]
On 22 March 1926, he married Helena Mary Christine Wray, younger daughter of Brigadier Cecil Wray, at St George's, Hanover Square, and had by her three children.[15] Beaumont's wife died in 1962 and he survived her until 1977; he was buried at St Peter's Church, Machynlleth.[10] His older son was the Rhodesian politician John Ralph Beaumont.[15]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
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| Preceded by Glenvil Hall |
Member of
Parliament for Portsmouth
Central 1931 – 1945 |
Succeeded by Julian Snow |
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