Thomas McKinnon Wood

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Thomas McKinnon Wood, PC (26 January 1855–26 March 1927) was a British Liberal politician.

Born in London, Wood was the only son of Hugh Wood, a merchant and shipowner, by his second wife Jessie McKinnon, daughter of Reverend Thomas McKinnon. His father had been born in Orkney, where his father was a farmer, but had later settled in London. Wood was educated at Mill Hill School and University College, London. After his father lost his sight, he joined the family business. He later turned to politics, and was a member for Central Hackney of the London County Council from 1892 to 1909. From 1898 to 1907 Wood was leader of the Progressive Party and also served as Chairman of the Council from 1898 to 1899. In 1907 he was appointed Alderman, a post he held until 1909. He was also Deputy Lieutenant for the County of London in 1899.

Wood stood unsuccessfully as a parliamentary candidate for East Islington in 1895, Glasgow St. Rollox in 1900 and Orkney and Shetland in 1902. However, in 1906 he was elected for Glasgow St. Rollox as a Liberal, a seat he held until 1918. In April 1908 Wood was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education in the administration of H.H. Asquith, a post he held until October of the same year, when he became Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. In 1911 he was made Financial Secretary to the Treasury and admitted to the Privy Council. The following year he was promoted to Secretary for Scotland with a seat in the cabinet. He continued in this post also when the war-time coalition was formed in May 1915. In July 1916 he was appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Financial Secretary to the Treasury. The latter post was considered very important in the war-time situation, and was not seen as a demotion. However, when Lloyd George became Prime Minister in December 1916, Wood was not offered a post in the government. He remained in the House of Commons until 1918, when he lost his Glasgow St Rollox seat to Gideon Oliphant-Murray (later 2nd Viscount Elibank). He stood unsuccessfully for Hackney Central in 1924, but never returned to the House of Commons.

Wood married Isabella Sandison, daughter of Alexander Sandison, in 1883. They had eight children, six sons and two daughters. Two sons and one daughter predeceased him. Wood died in March 1927, aged 72.

[edit] References

Torrance, David, The Scottish Secretaries (Birlinn 2006)

Preceded by John Wilson	Member of Parliament for Glasgow St Rollox 1906–1918	Succeeded by Gideon Oliphant-Murray
Preceded by T. Lough	Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education 1908	Succeeded by Charles Trevelyan
Preceded by Lord Edmond Fitzmaurice	Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs 1908–1911	Succeeded by Francis Dyke Acland
Preceded by Charles Hobhouse	Financial Secretary to the Treasury 1911–1912	Succeeded by Charles Frederick Gurney Masterman
Preceded by Lord Pentland	Secretary for Scotland 1912–1916	Succeeded by Harold Tennant
Preceded by Edwin Samuel Montagu	Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster July-December 1916	Succeeded by Sir Frederick Cawley
Preceded by Edwin Samuel Montagu	Financial Secretary to the Treasury July-December 1916	Succeeded by Sir Hardman Lever