Papers of Lord Robert Stevenson Horne, 1871-1940, Viscount Horne of Slamannan, politician and businessman, graduate of the University of Glasgow, Scotland
- Reference:GB 248 DC 089
- Dates of Creation:1897-1940
- Name of Creator:
- Language of Material:English
- Physical Description:0.9 metres
Scope and Content
The collection consists mainly of articles, speeches and press cuttings relating to Viscount Horne's political and business interests including:
- personal papers, articles and speeches 1910-1938;
- presscuttings 1909-1939;
- congratulatory letters regarding his peerrage 1937;
- title documents 1896-1933;
- obituaries 1940;
- miscellaneous correspondence and presscuttings 1921-1940s;
- catalogue of Robert Horne's personal library 1940;
- photographs with various political figures and activities early-mid 20th century.
Administrative / Biographical History
Robert Stevenson Horne was born on 28 February 1871 at Slamannan, Stirling, Scotland, the younger son of the Rev R S Horne, minister of the parish of Slamannan, and Mary, daughter of Thomas Lochhead of Toward, Argyll & Bute, Scotland. He was educated at George Watson's College, Edinburgh, Scotland, and the University of Glasgow , where he studied Arts and Law. He was the John Clark Scholar in Philosophy 1892 and graduated MA with first class honours in Mental Philosophy in 1893. He held the Ewing Fellowship at the University of Glasgow in 1894 and graduated LLB in 1896 . He was elected president of the Glasgow University Conservative Club in 1891 and president of the Glasgow University Students' Representative Council in 1892. In 1895, Horne was appointed lecturer in Philosophy at the University College of North Wales. He was then called to the Scottish Bar and admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1896. From 1896-1900 he was an examiner in Philosophy for the University of Aberdeen , Scotland.
In January and December 1910 he stood as Conservative candidate for Stirlingshire, Scotland. During the 1914-1918 World War, he served as a Lieutenant-Colonel with the Royal Engineers, working alongside Sir Eric Campbell Geddes, as Assistant Inspector-General of Transportation in 1917. This was followed by a number of further senior posts, including Director of the Department of Materials & Priority (1917); Director of the Admiralty Labour Department (1918); and Third Civil Lord of the Admiralty (1918). He was elected Unionist MP for the Hillhead division of Glasgow in December 1918, and was immediately appointed to the Cabinet under Lloyd George: he was made Minister of Labour in 1919; President of the Board of Trade in 1920-1921; and Chancellor of the Exchequer between 1921and 1922. However, in 1922, he did not accept office in the new administration of Bonar Law because of his loyalty to Lloyd George and thereafter remained a backbencher until 1937 , when he was granted a peerage, becoming Viscount Horne of Slamannan. On his resignation from the Cabinet he became involved once more in the City, and held directorships of the Suez Canal Co Ltd, the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co Ltd, Lloyds Bank, and the Commercial Union Assurance Co. In 1934, he became Chairman of the Great Western Railway Co. A number of honours were conferred on him, including: the Freedom of the City of Edinburgh; KBE in 1918; and GBE in 1920. He was Lord Rector of the University of Aberdeen between 1921 and 1924 and was conferred honorary degrees from the Universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Birmingham. Lord Robert Stevenson Horne died at Farnham, Surrey, England on 3 September 1940 .
Arrangement
The arrangement of this material reflects the original order in which it was received
Access Information
Open
Acquisition Information
Permanent Loan : family member : May 1981 : ACCN 0262
Other Finding Aids
Digital file level list available in searchroom
Alternative Form Available
No known copies
Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements
None which affect the use of this material
Conditions Governing Use
Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the Archivist.
Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents
Appraisal Information
This material has been appraised in line with standard GB 0248 procedures
Custodial History
The collection remained with the family until it was deposited in Glasgow University Archives by Viscount Horne's niece. It was believed at that time that many original papers were destroyed.
Accruals
None expected
Related Material
See source list on Political and Labour History Correspondence with Lord Beaverbrook 1911-1940 (BBK C/178) House of Lords Record Office: the Parliamentary Archives (GB 0061); Correspondence with David Lloyd George etc 1922-1935 (vols. 2/F 4/G) House of Lords record Office: the Parliamentary Archives (GB 0061); Correspondence (27 items) with Andrew Bonar Law 1914-1922 (Bonar Law papers) House of Lords Record Office: the Parliamentary Archives (GB 0061); Letters to Lord Beaverbrook 1922-1940 (Acc 8214) National library of Scotland, Manuscripts Division (GB 0233); Correspondence with the 17th Earl of Derby 1923 (920DER) Liverpool Record Office and Local History Service (GB 0138); Correspondence with Lord Elibank 1927-1932 (GD32) National Archives of Scotland (GB 0234). For contact details of all repositories with a GB code, search the indexes of the National Register of Archives , at the Historical Manuscripts Commission.
Location of Originals
This material is original
Bibliography
No known publications using this material
Additional Information
Description compiled in line with the following international standards: International Council on Archives,ISAD(G) Second Edition, September 1999 and National Council on Archives,Rules for the construction of personal, place and corporate names
Scotland is the location of all place names in the administrative/biographical history element, unless otherwise stated.
Fonds level description compiled by Moira MacKay, Assistant Archivist, research by Virginia Russell, Archives Assistant, 01 September 1997.
Subjects
Personal Names
Corporate Names
Geographical Names