Harold Tennant

Harold John "Jack" Tennant PC (18 November 1865 – 9 November 1935) was a Scottish Liberal politician. He served as Secretary for Scotland under his brother-in-law H. H. Asquith between July and December 1916.

Background and education

Born at The Glen, Innerleithen, Peeblesshire, Tennant was a younger son of Sir Charles Tennant, 1st Baronet, by his first wife Emma, daughter of Richard Winsloe. He was the brother of Edward Tennant, 1st Baron Glenconner and Margot Asquith (and hence the brother-in-law of H. H. Asquith) and the half-brother of Baroness Elliot of Harwood.^[1] He was educated at Eton and at Trinity College, Cambridge.^[2]

Political career

Tennant was Assistant Private Secretary to his brother-in-law H. H. Asquith while the latter was Home Secretary between 1892 and 1895. In 1894 he was elected Member of Parliament for Berwickshire.^[3] Asquith became Prime Minister in 1908 and in January 1909 he appointed Tennant Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade. Tennant remained in this office until 1911, and then served under Asquith as Financial Secretary to the War Office from 1911 to 1912 and as Under-Secretary of State for War from 1912 to 1916. In 1914 he was sworn of the Privy Council.^[4] He entered the cabinet as Secretary for Scotland under Asquith in July 1916,^[5] a post he held until Asquith was ousted as Prime Minister in December 1916. Tennant did not serve under David Lloyd George.

Tennant lost his seat in parliament at the 1918 general election. He also unsuccessfully contested Glasgow Central in 1923^[6] but never returned to the House of Commons.

Personal life

Tennant bought Great Maytham Hall, Rolvenden, Kent in 1910. He commissioned Edward Lutyens to rebuild the hall at a cost of £24,000.^[7] Tennant died in November 1935, aged 70.

References

• Torrance, David, The Scottish Secretaries (Birlinn 2006)