William Shepherd Morrison


(Viscount Dunrossil of Valaquie)

1893 - 1961

Politician. Morrison was born at Torinturk (Argyll and Bute) of North Uist parents. He was educated at George Watson's College (Edinburgh) and went on to read law at the University in that city. His studies were interrupted by service in the First World War, during which he was wounded and mentioned in despatches on two occasions. Thereafter, he completed his studies. In 1929, Morrison was elected as the Conservative Member of Parliament for the English constituency of Cirencester and Tewkesbury, serving in this position for 30 years. As the Second World War approached, Morrison spoke out against German re-armament. In the wartime cabinet, he was Minister of Agriculture and Food and as such responsible for introducing rationing to Britain. Proposed by Winston Churchill, he became Speaker of the House of Commons (1951-9), the first Gaelic-speaker to hold that post.

In 1959, he was created Viscount Dunrossil of Valaquie. He was appointed Governor-General of Australia in the last year of his life. He died in Canberra and is remembered by Dunrossil Drive, leading to Government House in that city, and the Dunrossil Memorial Lecture.


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