Alexander Shaw, 2nd Baron Craigmyle

Alexander Shaw, 2nd Baron Craigmyle
Born	(1883-02-28) February 28, 1883
Died	September 29, 1944(1944-09-29) (aged 61)
Occupation(s)	Politician, barrister, businessman
Known for	President of the Oxford Union (1905), Member of Parliament for Kilmarnock Burghs and Kilmarnock, Chairman of Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, Director of the Bank of England

Alexander Shaw, 2nd Baron Craigmyle (28 February 1883 – 29 September 1944) was a politician affiliated with the Scottish Liberal Party.

Life

Shaw received his education at George Watson's College, followed by studies at the University of Edinburgh and Trinity College, Oxford. During his time at Oxford, he served as President of the Oxford Union in 1905. After qualifying as a barrister in 1908, he married Lady Margaret Cargill Mackay in 1913; the couple had one son and three daughters. His military service during the First World War included duty with the Royal Marine Artillery, where he took part in the Battle of the Somme. Outside his parliamentary work, Shaw held prominent business positions, notably as a director of the Bank of England and as Chairman of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P & O).

In 1937, he succeeded his father, Law Lord Thomas Shaw, 1st Baron Craigmyle, inheriting the peerage. Upon his passing in 1944 at age 61, his title was passed on to his son Thomas Donald Mackay Shaw, who became the 3rd Baron Craigmyle.

Parliamentary career

Shaw secured election without opposition as Member of Parliament for Kilmarnock Burghs in a by-election held in 1915 and maintained this position until the constituency was abolished in 1918. Subsequently, he was elected as a Coalition Liberal representing the newly formed Kilmarnock seat and retained it as a Liberal in the 1922 election. He stepped down from the House of Commons on 12 November 1923 by accepting the formal appointment as Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds; no by-election occurred following his resignation, leaving the seat vacant until Parliament was dissolved later that month.

External links

• Thomas Donald Mackay Shaw, 3rd Baron Craigmyle obituary, independent.co.uk. Accessed 12 December 2022.