On This Day

27 August 1881

Birth of Ernest Brown, Leader of the Liberal National Party 1940-45

Born in Torquay, Ernest Brown served in World War One and was awarded the Military Cross. After three unsuccessful attempts to enter parliament, he was elected Liberal MP for Rugby in 1923 but lost the seat the following year. He returned to parliament in 1927 successfully defending Leith in a by-election caused by the resignation of the sitting liberal MP William Wedgwood Ben following his defection to Labour. Increasingly associated with Sir John Simon and at odds with Liberal leader David Lloyd George, Brown joined the Liberal Nationals in 1931 and later succeeded Simon as leader in 1940. He became a feature of the National governments from 1931, entering the cabinet in 1935 as Minister of Labour and later serving as Scottish Secretary and Minister of Health. Brown was possessed of a very loud voice. Once when Stanley Baldwin was living at 11 Downing Street he was startled by a great shouting in the building. When informed that it was Ernest Brown talking to Scotland Baldwin is said to have replied, ‘why doesn’t he use the telephone?’ After losing his seat in 1945 Brown lived quietly in retirement until his death, aged 80, in February 1962.