Charles Barrie, 1st Baron Abertay
Charles Coupar Barrie, 1st Baron Abertay | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Glasgow, Scotland |
| Died | December 6, 1940 (aged 65) |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, politician |
| Known for | Member of Parliament; shipowner; political figure; chairman of NAAFI |
Charles Coupar Barrie, 1st Baron Abertay, (7 June 1875 – 6 December 1940), was a Scottish entrepreneur and political figure who initially aligned with the Liberal Party before joining the Liberal National faction in the United Kingdom.
Background and education
Born in Glasgow as the eldest child of Sir Charles Barrie, former Lord Provost of Dundee, Charles Barrie received his education at the High School of Dundee followed by Blairlodge School, located in Polmont.
Political career
Throughout the First World War, Barrie contributed in advisory capacities within the Admiralty's Transport Department and the Ministry of Shipping. He acted as the representative for the Minister of Munitions at the 1919 Peace Conference in Paris and was a member of the Supreme Economic Council. Additionally, Barrie chaired the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI) and was part of the General Post Office Advisory Council. His parliamentary service included serving as a Liberal Member of Parliament for Elgin Burghs briefly in 1918, then for Banffshire from 1918 to 1924, and subsequently representing Southampton between 1931 and 1940 as a Liberal National.
He received the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) honor in 1918 and was promoted to Knight Commander (KBE) in 1921. In 1940, he was granted a peerage as Baron Abertay. His decorations also included the Russian Order of St Stanislaus and Denmark’s Order of the Dannebrog.
Business career
Barrie was a distinguished shipowner and merchant, holding numerous directorships across various industries such as shipping, rail transport, banking, insurance, and telecommunications. Among his positions were directorships with the London and North Eastern Railway, Central Argentine Railway, Mercantile Bank of India, Phoenix Assurance Company, and Cable and Wireless Ltd.
Personal life
In 1926, Barrie wed Ethel Broom, daughter of Sir James Broom. He passed away at Tullybelton in Perthshire in 1940, survived by three daughters. Upon his death, his peerage title became extinct.