Sir Robert Abraham Burrows, KBE (17 March 1884 – 14 August 1964), was a British businessman and Liberal Party politician.
Background
editBurrows was born the son of Miles Formby Burrows, Esq., JP, Lancs.[1] and Gertrude Dawbarn. He was educated at The Leys School, Cambridge. In 1911, he married Eleanor Doris Bainbridge (1891-1975), great-granddaughter of Bainbridge's founder Emerson Muschamp Bainbridge. Sir Robert and Lady Burrows had two sons and two daughters.[2][3] In 1937 he was awarded a knighthood in the New Year's Honours. In 1952 he was awarded a KBE in the New Year's Honours for services to the disabled.
Burrows is, through his granddaughter Nikki Williams-Ellis (née Burrows), the great-grandfather of Princess Beatrice's husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.[4]
Career
editBurrows was Chairman of Lancashire Associated Collieries. He was Chairman of Directors, Remploy Ltd. In July 1947, as Chairman of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, Burrows presented a display of flowers in the shape of a "large heart" at Crewe railway station as a "personal tribute" to farewell Princess Elizabeth, her fiancé Prince Philip, Princess Margaret, King George VI and his wife Queen Elizabeth who were leaving for Scotland aboard the Royal Train.[5] Through their mutual involvement in the National Association of Boys' Clubs, Burrows enjoyed "direct contact and friendship" with the Duke of York, (later George VI) who occasionally stayed with Burrows at his Bonis Hall home in Prestbury, Cheshire.[6][7]
Political career
editBurrows was Liberal candidate for the Leigh division of Lancashire at the 1923 General Election. He hoped to regain a seat lost to Labour in 1922 when his Liberal predecessor finished third. He was unsuccessful but managed to claim second place. He did not stand for parliament again.[8]
Electoral record
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour | John Joseph Tinker | 13,989 | 43.0 | −2.0 | |
| Liberal | Robert Abraham Burrows | 9,854 | 30.3 | +9.2 | |
| Unionist | Herbert Metcalfe | 8,664 | 26.7 | −7.2 | |
| Majority | 4,135 | 12.7 | +1.6 | ||
| Turnout | 86.5 | −3.4 | |||
| Labour hold | Swing | -5.6 | |||
He served as a Justice of the peace for the County of Lancaster.[9] In 1940 he served as High Sheriff of Cheshire.[10]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles. "Armorial families : a directory of gentlemen of coat-armour (Volume 1)". Edinburgh : T.C. & E.C. Jack. p. 73. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ "Burrows, Sir Robert (Abraham), (17 March 1884–14 Aug. 1964), JP; Director: District Bank, Ltd (formerly Deputy Chairman); National Boiler and General Insurance Co. Ltd (Chairman); Alliance Assurance Co. Ltd; Yorkshire Bank (formerly Chairman)". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
- ^ "Burke's Peerage". Burke's Peerage. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
...Page 2693 - BURROWS, Sir Robert Abraham, K . B . E . ( 1952 ) ... Robert David, b . 12 May 1929...
- ^ Ball, Elliot (21 September 2021). "Who is Princess Beatrice's husband? The story behind Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi". The Herald (Plymouth). Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ "Queen Elizabeth Had to Receive Attention From Eye Specialist". The Canberra Times. 16 July 1947. p. Front page. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
The heart was a personal tribute from Sir Robert Burrows, chairman of the London Midland-Scottish Railway Company...their Majesties each had a special coach on the train...
- ^ Salter, D. (2012). Breaking Ranks: The True Story Behind the HMAS Voyager Scandal. Random House Australia. ISBN 9781742748177. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
Through the latter he had direct contact and friendship with the Duke, soon to become King George VI, and the Duke had stayed at the Burrows' home, Bonis Hall, as a guest on two weekends.
- ^ Davies, A. (2014). Locomotives of the Lancashire Central Coalfield: The Walkden Yard Connection. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 9781445635040. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
(page viii)...the Duke of York occasionally staying with him [Burrows] at his Bonis Hall home in Prestbury, Cheshire
- ^ British parliamentary election results 1918-1973, Craig, F.W.S.
- ^ 'BURROWS, Sir Robert (Abraham)’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2016; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014; online edn, April 2014 accessed 7 Feb 2016
- ^ "No. 34807". The London Gazette. 8 March 1940. p. 1381.