Sir John Helias Finnie McEwen


1893 - 1962

Politician, land-owner and minor poet. The son of advocate Robert Finnie McEwen of Bardrochat (1861 - 1921) who also owned Marchmont House in the Scottish Borders, McEwen was brought up the country gentleman, educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge. Following service in the First World War, during which he was taken prisoner, and time in the Diplomatic Service (1921-5), he was elected the Conservative Member of Parliament for Berwick and Haddington (1931-45) and served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Under-Secretary of State for India (1933-36) and briefly as Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (1939-40). He was a Member of the Royal Company of Archers, was created a baronet in 1953 and awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Glasgow. McEwen also served as a Trustee of the National Galleries of Scotland from 1952.

His sons include the noted botanical artist Rory McEwen (1932-82) and folk musician Eck McEwen (b.1935).


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