Hugh Seely, 1st Baron Sherwood

Hugh Michael Seely, 1st Baron Sherwood (2 October 1898 – 1 April 1970) was a British Liberal politician. He was the third baronet of the Seely family, of Sherwood Lodge, Nottinghamshire.

The Right Honourable The Lord Sherwood
Under-Secretary of State for Air
In office 1941–1944 Serving with The Lord Balfour of Inchrye (1941–44)
Prime Minister	Winston Churchill
Preceded by	Anthony Muirhead
Succeeded by	Rupert Brabner
Member of the United Kingdom Parliament for East Norfolk
In office 6 December 1923 – 29 October 1924
Preceded by	Michael Falcon
Succeeded by	Reginald Neville
Member of the United Kingdom Parliament for Berwick-upon-Tweed
In office 14 November1935 – 14 August 1941
Preceded by	Alfred Todd
Succeeded by	George Grey
Personal details
Born	2 October 1898
Died	1 April 1970 (aged 71)
Nationality	British
Political party	Liberal
Military service
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch/service	British Army
Years of service	1914–1918
Rank	Lieutenant
Unit	Grenadier Guards
Battles/wars	First World War Western Front

Seely was educated at Eton College and became a lieutenant in the Grenadier Guards. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for East Norfolk from 1923 to 1924, High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire for 1925 and MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed from 1935 to 1941. He was the Joint Under-Secretary of State for Air during a large part of the Second World War (1941–45). In 1946 he acquired and was Chairman of the famous gunmaker James Purdey and Sons.[1]

He married Molly Patricia Chetwode, (née Berry), daughter of William Ewart Berry, 1st Viscount Camrose, who owned The Daily Telegraph newspaper. He was created Baron Sherwood, of Calverton in the County of Nottingham on 14 August 1941;[2] the barony became extinct when he died in 1970 without children. His brother Sir Victor Basil John Seely, 4th Baronet (1900–1980) inherited the baronetcy. Victor's son Sir Nigel Edward Seely is the current and 5th Baronet (born 1923). Lord Sherwood was a member of a family of politicians, industrialists and significant landowners. His great-grandfather Charles Seely (1803–1887), grandfather Sir Charles Seely, 1st Baronet, father Sir Charles Seely, 2nd Baronet, and uncle John Edward Bernard Seely, 1st Baron Mottistone were all Members of Parliament.

See also

• Seely baronets

References

1. "Purdey History". Purdey: Gun & Rifle Makers. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
2. "No. 35251". The London Gazette. 19 August 1941. p. 4808.

Further reading

• Burke's Peerage and Baronetage 107th Edition Volume III [ *Burke's Peerage and Baronetage 107th Edition Volume III
• Information on the Seely family estates at the UK National Registry of Archives
• Wight Life April/May 1975 article on The Seely Family and their Island Homes
• The Great Houses of Nottinghamshire, Sherwood Lodge (1881)
• Correspondence with Winston Churchill

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Hugh Seely