John Maude
John Cyril Maude | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 3, 1901 |
| Died | August 16, 1986 (aged 85) |
| Occupation(s) | Barrister, judge, politician |
| Years active | 1925–1968 |
| Known for | Member of Parliament for Exeter (1945–1951), King's Counsel, Recorder of Devizes and Plymouth |
John Cyril Maude KC (3 April 1901 – 16 August 1986) was a British barrister and a politician affiliated with the Conservative party. He represented his constituency in the House of Commons from 1945 until 1951, after which he pursued a judicial career.
Early life
Born to the actors Cyril Maude and Winifred Emery, Maude received his education at Eton College followed by Christ Church, Oxford. He was admitted to the bar at the Middle Temple in 1925.
Career
Maude held the position of Recorder in Devizes from 1939 to 1944 and subsequently in Plymouth between 1944 and 1954. He attained the rank of King's Counsel in 1943 and was appointed a bencher in 1951. Between 1935 and 1942, he acted as Counsel to the Post Office at the Central Criminal Court and advanced to junior counsel to the Treasury in 1942.
His wartime service included a temporary role as Civil Assistant at the War Office starting in 1939, followed by a commission as Major within Military Intelligence in 1940, and later duties within the War Cabinet offices in 1942.
Maude was elected as Member of Parliament for Exeter in 1945, balancing his legal responsibilities with campaigning efforts. His inaugural parliamentary speech focused on addressing housing shortages caused by wartime damage and called for an end to the practice of billeting civil servants in private residences.
In 1948, he opposed suspending capital punishment, emphasizing its value as a deterrent. Despite boundary adjustments, he secured re-election in 1950 with a larger majority but declared his intention to retire soon after, stepping down at the general election of 1951.
After leaving Parliament, Maude served as an additional judge at the City of London Court from 1954 to 1965 and at the Central Criminal Court from 1965 until 1968. Additionally, he chaired both the Old Vic Trust (1951–1954) and the British Drama League (1952–1954).
Personal life
Maude was married twice: initially in 1927 to Rosamund Murray from Boston, Massachusetts, with their marriage ending in divorce in 1955. Later that year, he wed Maureen Buchanan, daughter of Hon. Arthur Guinness and widow of the 4th Marquis of Dufferin and Ava.