James Greig (British politician)

Colonel Sir James William Greig CB VD KC (31 January 1859 – 10 June 1934^[1]) was a British barrister and Liberal Party politician. He sat in the House of Commons from 1910 to 1922.

Early life[edit]

Greig was the son of John Borthwick Greig from Abingdon Street, Westminster, and his wife Mary, daughter of William Grant from Madeira.^[2] He was educated at University College School and at University College London, where he graduated with a BA and LL.B.^[2] He also studied in Paris at the Sorbonne and at the Collège de France.^[3]

Greig was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1882,^[2] and practised at the Parliamentary Bar and in Chancery Bar.^[3] He became a King's Counsel (KC) in 1913^[4] and a bencher in 1917.^[2] He became standing arbitrator under the Railways Act 1921.^[3]

At the 1918 general election he was re-elected in Western Renfrewshire^[8] as a Coalition Liberal,^[9] i.e. a supporter of David Lloyd George's coalition government. He was knighted in June 1921,^[10] but he was defeated when he stood as a National Liberal at the 1922 general election.^[9] He contested Berwick and Haddington at the 1929 general election, but came third with 26% of the votes.^[11]

Greig also served in the Volunteer Force, and by 1908 he was a Lieutenant-Colonel and Honorary Colonel of the 7th Middlesex (London Scottish) Volunteer Rifle Corps.^[12] When the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 merged the Volunteers with the remaining units of militia and Yeomanry, he became Lieutenant-Colonel and Honorary Colonel commanding the 14th Battalion of the County of London (London Scottish) Regiment of the new Territorial Force.^[12] He was awarded the Volunteer Decoration.^[10]

Greig married Jeannie Taylor, daughter of Captain Edward Brown from Salem, Massachusetts.^[3] She died in 1931.^[3]

Greig died suddenly on 10 June 1934, at his home in Hyde Park Gate, London.^[3] He was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium, and his ashes were interred at West Hampstead Cemetery.^[13] A memorial service was held at St Columba's Church in Pont Street.^[3]

His estate was valued at £27,921 (gross).^[14]

^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "R" (part 1)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Hesilridge, Arthur G. M. (1918). Debrett's House of Commons and the Judicial Bench 1918. London: Dean & Son. p. 67 – via Internet Archive.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Sir James Greig, K.C. Lawyer, Politician, And Soldier". The Times. London. 12 June 1934. pp. 16, col E.
^ "No. 28766". The London Gazette. 21 October 1913. p. 7336.
^ "No. 28338". The London Gazette. 11 February 1910. p. 1039.
^ Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [First published 1974]. British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 558. ISBN 0-900178-27-2.
^ "No. 28449". The London Gazette. 23 December 1910. p. 9559.
^ "No. 31147". The London Gazette. 28 January 1919. p. 1366.
^ ^a ^b Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [First published 1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 (3rd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 645. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
^ ^a ^b "No. 32346". The London Gazette. 4 June 1921. p. 4530.
^ Craig, election results 1918–1949, page 619
^ ^a ^b "No. 28150". The London Gazette. 23 June 1908. p. 4559.
^ "Deaths". The Times. London. 14 June 1934. p. 19, col D.
^ "Wills and Bequests". The Times. London. 23 August 1934. p. 13, col B.

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Sir Thomas Glen-Coats, Bt	Member of Parliament for Western Renfrewshire January 1910 – 1922	Succeeded by Robert Murray

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