The Viscount Margesson | |
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![]() Margesson at his desk in the War Office | |
Secretary of State for War | |
In office 22 December 1940 – 22 February 1942 | |
Prime Minister | Winston Churchill |
Preceded by | Anthony Eden |
Succeeded by | Sir James Grigg |
Government Chief Whip in the House of Commons Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury | |
In office 10 November 1931 – 22 December 1940 | |
Prime Minister | Ramsay MacDonald Stanley Baldwin Neville Chamberlain Winston Churchill |
Preceded by | Tom Kennedy |
Succeeded by | Sir Charles Edwards |
Personal details | |
Born | 26 July 1890 |
Died | 24 December 1965 | (aged 75)
Nationality | British |
Political party | Conservative |
Spouse | Frances Leggett |
Alma mater | Magdalene College, Cambridge |
Henry David Reginald Margesson, 1st Viscount Margesson, PC (26 July 1890 – 24 December 1965) was a British Conservative politician, most popularly remembered for his tenure as Government Chief Whip in the 1930s. His reputation was of a stern disciplinarian who was one of the harshest and most effective whips. His sense of the popular mood led him know when to sacrifice unpopular ministers. He protected the appeasement-supporting government as long as he could.
However, some argue that there were weaknesses of his system because of the number of high-profile rebellions during his tenure.