Joseph Maclay, 2nd Baron Maclay

Joseph Paton Maclay, 2nd Baron Maclay
Born	Template:Birth date Scotland
Died	November 7, 1969(1969-11-07) (aged 70)
Occupation(s)	Banker, shipowner, politician
Known for	Member of Parliament for Paisley (1931–1945), chairman of Maclay and McIntyre, president of the Chamber of Shipping of the United Kingdom

Joseph Paton Maclay, 2nd Baron Maclay (31 May 1899 – 7 November 1969) was a Scottish banker, shipowner, peer, and politician affiliated with the Liberal Party.

Family and education

As the oldest surviving son of Joseph Maclay, 1st Baron Maclay, and Martha (née Strang), Maclay had two elder brothers who perished during the First World War. His younger sibling was John Maclay, 1st Viscount Muirshiel. The family home was Duchal House. In 1936, he wed Nancy Margaret Greig, daughter of Robert Coventry Greig; their marriage ceremony was held at Paisley Abbey. He received his education at Fettes College in Edinburgh and later at Trinity College, Cambridge. Maclay passed away in a hospital in November 1969 at the age of 70. His eldest son Joseph inherited the barony upon his death.

Business

Maclay held the position of chairman at Maclay and McIntyre of Glasgow, the shipping enterprise established by his father. Between 1946 and 1947, he was president of the Chamber of Shipping of the United Kingdom as well as Chairman of the General Council of British Shipping. From 1952 to 1954, he served as Lord Dean of Guild in Glasgow. In 1947, he led the International Shipping Conference held in London. Beyond shipping, he was a Director at Midland Bank and also chaired Clydesdale and North Scotland Bank.

Parliament and other public office

Maclay was elected as Member of Parliament for Paisley in 1931 and retained this seat until 1945. Upon his father’s death in 1951, he succeeded to the barony and took his seat in the House of Lords. Initially a supporter of Ramsay MacDonald’s National Government as a Liberal, he chose not to join opposition ranks or formally affiliate with the Liberal National Party. In the 1935 election, he was returned unopposed by Conservatives because of his backing for the government. Notably, following the Norway debate in May 1940, he was one of only two Liberals to continue supporting the government.

Although there were political disagreements with Herbert Samuel’s leadership of the Liberal Party, their relationship remained amicable; in fact, Maclay accompanied Samuel as honorary private secretary to a conference organized by the Institute of Pacific Relations in Canada in 1933.

During World War II, from 1943 to 1945, Maclay was appointed Head of Convoy and Admiralty Liaison within the Ministry of War Transport.