Oliver Lyttelton, 1st Viscount Chandos

Oliver Lyttelton, 1st Viscount Chandos KG, PC, DSO, MC (15 March 1893 – 21 January 1972) was a British businessman who was brought into government during the Second World War, holding a number of ministerial posts.

Background, education and military career

Born in Mayfair, London, Chandos was the son of the Hon. Alfred Lyttelton, younger son of George Lyttelton, 4th Baron Lyttelton. His mother was his father's second wife Edith, daughter of Archibald Balfour. He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge. He served in the Grenadier Guards in the First World War, where he met Winston Churchill, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and Military Cross.

Business career

Chandos was managing director of British Metal Corporation, at a time when it was a major shareholder in "Metallgesellschaft A.G." a German Industrial giant which financed Hitlers Nazi party. He also served as Chairman of both the London Tin Corporation and Associated Electrical Industries. In 1970 he was made a Knight of the Garter.

Political career

Chandos entered Parliament as Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Aldershot in a wartime by-election in 1940 and was sworn of the Privy Council the same year. He entered Winston Churchill's war coalition as President of the Board of Trade in 1940, a post he held until 1941, and then served as Minister of State in the Middle East from 1941 to 1942 and as Minister of Production from 1942 to 1945. He was again President of the Board of Trade in Churchill's brief 1945 caretaker government. After the Conservatives' 1951 election victory, he became Secretary of State for the Colonies, which he remained until 1954. The latter year he was elevated to the peerage as Viscount Chandos, of Aldershot in the County of Southampton.

Later career

Chandos then returned to Associated Electrical Industries, and steered it to become a major British company. In 1962, Chandos became the first chairman of the National Theatre, serving until 1971. He then served as president until his death. His parents had been active campaigners for its development, and the Lyttelton Theatre, part of the National's South Bank complex, was named after him.

Family

Lord Chandos married Lady Moira, daughter of George Osborne, 10th Duke of Leeds in January 1920. They had three sons and one daughter. He died in Marylebone, London, in January 1972, aged 78, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Antony. Lady Chandos died in May 1976, aged 84.

References

• www.thepeerage.com
• Murphy, Philip (January 2008). "Lyttelton, Oliver, first Viscount Chandos (1893–1972)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/31385. http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/31385. Retrieved 2009-08-08.  Subscription or UK public library membership required

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by the Viscount Chandos