John Andrew Davidson, 2nd Viscount Davidson (22 December 1928 – 20 July 2012),[1] was a British peer and Conservative politician. Regarded as a safe pair of hands,[2] he became deputy chief whip in the House of Lords.
Davidson was the elder son of J. C. C. Davidson, 1st Viscount Davidson, and Frances, daughter of Willoughby Dickinson, 1st Baron Dickinson. He was educated at Westminster School and Pembroke College, Cambridge. Between 1947 and 1949 he served in the Black Watch and the 5th Battalion of the King's African Rifles before going up to Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he was known for his thespian talents, being president of the Footlights in 1951.[3][4] In 1960 he embarked on a 15-year career in large-scale farming, as a director of Strutt and Parker (Farms) and Lord Rayleigh Farms. By 1965 he was on the council of the Country Landowners Association (now the Country Land & Business Association). In 1966 he was appointed chairman of the Royal Eastern Counties Hospital for the mentally handicapped at Colchester, a job he considered the "most frustrating" of his life. Tensions with the regional hospital board which was ultimately responsible for the hospital boiled over in 1971, ostensibly because of the way Mauritian employees had been treated, and the following March the board sacked five members of the management committee.
Political career
Davidson entered the House of Lords on the death of his father in 1970. He served in the Conservative administrations of Margaret Thatcher and John Major as a Lord-in-waiting between 1985 and 1986. An agile mind and a winning manner enabled Andrew Davidson to carry out the demanding duties of Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords for six years, 1986–92, with skill and marked success. As Deputy Chief Whip, he held the ancient but purely nominal office of Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard.[3] He lost his seat in Parliament after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999, commenting: "I am getting on and maybe the younger generation should get a shot at it."[2]
Family
Lord Davidson was married twice. He married firstly Margaret Birgitta, daughter of Major-General Cyril Henry Norton, in 1956. They had four daughters (one of whom, Hon. Alexandra Oldfield, is deceased) but were divorced in 1974. His second daughter Hon. Caroline Davidson was married to Lord Edward Alexander Somerset, second son of David Somerset, 11th Duke of Beaufort. Lord Davidson married secondly Pamela Joy (now deceased), daughter of John Vergette, in 1975. They had no children.[3][4]
Viscount Davidson died on 20 July 2012 at the age of 83 and was succeeded by his brother Malcolm William Mackenzie Davidson, 3rd Viscount Davidson (1934-2019), also a Pembroke alumnus.
Arms
Coat of arms of Andrew Davidson, 2nd Viscount Davidson
Crest
A lion passant Gules charged on the shoulder with a pheon Or and holding in the dexter paw a torch inflamed Proper.
Escutcheon
Argent on a fess Sable between in chief two pheons Azure and in base a boar's head erased of the second a portcullis chained Or.
Supporters
On the dexter side a horse Argent charged on the shoulder with a rose Gules barbed and seeded Proper and on the sinister side a horse Sable charged on the shoulder with a martlet Or.
andrew, davidson, viscount, davidson, john, december, 1928, july, 2012, british, peer, conservative, politician, regarded, safe, pair, hands, became, deputy, chief, whip, house, lords, right, honourablethe, viscount, davidsondeputy, chief, whip, house, lords, . John Andrew Davidson 2nd Viscount Davidson 22 December 1928 20 July 2012 1 was a British peer and Conservative politician Regarded as a safe pair of hands 2 he became deputy chief whip in the House of Lords The Right HonourableThe Viscount DavidsonDeputy Chief Whip of the House of Lords Captain of the Queen s Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the GuardIn office 10 September 1986 30 December 1991MonarchElizabeth IIPrime MinisterMargaret Thatcher John MajorPreceded byThe Earl of SwintonSucceeded byThe Earl of Strathmore and KinghorneLord in waitingGovernment WhipIn office 17 September 1985 10 September 1986Prime MinisterMargaret ThatcherPreceded byThe Earl of CaithnessSucceeded byThe Lord HeskethMember of the House of LordsLord TemporalIn office 12 December 1970 11 November 1999 Hereditary PeeragePreceded byThe 1st Viscount DavidsonSucceeded bySeat abolishedPersonal detailsBorn 1928 12 22 22 December 1928Westminster EnglandDied20 July 2012 2012 07 20 aged 83 Political partyConservativeSpouse s 1 Margaret Norton 2 Pamela VergetteChildren4Parent s J C C DavidsonFrances DickinsonAlma materPembroke College Cambridge Contents 1 Background and education 2 Political career 3 Family 4 Arms 5 References 6 External linksBackground and education EditDavidson was the elder son of J C C Davidson 1st Viscount Davidson and Frances daughter of Willoughby Dickinson 1st Baron Dickinson He was educated at Westminster School and Pembroke College Cambridge Between 1947 and 1949 he served in the Black Watch and the 5th Battalion of the King s African Rifles before going up to Pembroke College Cambridge where he was known for his thespian talents being president of the Footlights in 1951 3 4 In 1960 he embarked on a 15 year career in large scale farming as a director of Strutt and Parker Farms and Lord Rayleigh Farms By 1965 he was on the council of the Country Landowners Association now the Country Land amp Business Association In 1966 he was appointed chairman of the Royal Eastern Counties Hospital for the mentally handicapped at Colchester a job he considered the most frustrating of his life Tensions with the regional hospital board which was ultimately responsible for the hospital boiled over in 1971 ostensibly because of the way Mauritian employees had been treated and the following March the board sacked five members of the management committee Political career EditDavidson entered the House of Lords on the death of his father in 1970 He served in the Conservative administrations of Margaret Thatcher and John Major as a Lord in waiting between 1985 and 1986 An agile mind and a winning manner enabled Andrew Davidson to carry out the demanding duties of Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords for six years 1986 92 with skill and marked success As Deputy Chief Whip he held the ancient but purely nominal office of Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard 3 He lost his seat in Parliament after the passing of the House of Lords Act 1999 commenting I am getting on and maybe the younger generation should get a shot at it 2 Family EditLord Davidson was married twice He married firstly Margaret Birgitta daughter of Major General Cyril Henry Norton in 1956 They had four daughters one of whom Hon Alexandra Oldfield is deceased but were divorced in 1974 His second daughter Hon Caroline Davidson was married to Lord Edward Alexander Somerset second son of David Somerset 11th Duke of Beaufort Lord Davidson married secondly Pamela Joy now deceased daughter of John Vergette in 1975 They had no children 3 4 Viscount Davidson died on 20 July 2012 at the age of 83 and was succeeded by his brother Malcolm William Mackenzie Davidson 3rd Viscount Davidson 1934 2019 also a Pembroke alumnus Arms EditCoat of arms of Andrew Davidson 2nd Viscount Davidson Crest A lion passant Gules charged on the shoulder with a pheon Or and holding in the dexter paw a torch inflamed Proper Escutcheon Argent on a fess Sable between in chief two pheons Azure and in base a boar s head erased of the second a portcullis chained Or Supporters On the dexter side a horse Argent charged on the shoulder with a rose Gules barbed and seeded Proper and on the sinister side a horse Sable charged on the shoulder with a martlet Or Motto Lux Ex Tenebris 5 References Edit Daily Telegraph Obituary Viscount Davidson The Daily Telegraph London 25 July 2012 Retrieved 25 July 2012 a b Roth Andrew 27 August 2012 Viscount Davidson obituary the Guardian Retrieved 15 June 2022 a b c Who s Who 2007 A amp C Black Publishers Limited London 2007 a b thepeerage com Burke s Peerage 1949 External links EditHansard 1803 2005 contributions in Parliament by Andrew Davidson 2nd Viscount DavidsonPolitical officesPreceded byThe Earl of Swinton Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard1986 1991 Succeeded byThe Earl of Strathmore and KinghornePeerage of the United KingdomPreceded byJ C C Davidson Viscount Davidson1970 2012 Succeeded byMalcolm William Mackenzie Davidson Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Andrew Davidson 2nd Viscount Davidson amp oldid 1137664440, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
