Marcus Kimball

Marcus Richard Kimball, Baron Kimball (18 October 1928 – 26 March 2014) was a British Conservative politician.

The Right Honourable The Lord Kimball
Member of Parliament for Gainsborough
In office 15 February 1956 – 13 May 1983
Preceded by	Harry Crookshank
Succeeded by	Edward Leigh
Personal details
Born	Marcus Richard Kimball 18 October 1928 Marylebone, London, England
Died	26 March 2014 (aged 85)
Political party	Conservative
Parents	Lawrence Kimball (father)
Education	Eton College
Alma mater	Trinity College, Cambridge

Early life

The son of Major Lawrence Kimball,[1] he was born in Marylebone, London, and educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge. He became a farmer and a Lloyd's underwriter. He was a councillor on Rutland County Council and commanded a squadron of the Leicestershire Yeomanry.

Political career

Kimball contested Derby South in 1955.

He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Gainsborough from a 1956 by-election until 1983. While representing this constituency, he wrote to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, after Argentina's invasion of the Falkland Islands, that he felt the British government should "let the Argentinians have the Falklands with as little fuss as possible". This letter, apparently written without the knowledge of his constituency party, remained secret until revealed by the release of part of the Thatcher archive in 2013.[2]

According to his obituary he treated his constituents in much the same way as he treated the tenants of his Market Harborough and Altnaharra estates advising potential MPs not to promise to hold surgeries and not to live in the constituency unless sure there was a good local hunt.[3]

Kimball opposed separate taxation for women in 1978, saying women just gave the bill to their husbands.[3]

Knighted in 1981,[4] Kimball was subsequently given a life peerage as Baron Kimball, of Easton in the County of Leicestershire on 9 May 1985.[5]

Hunting interests

A keen huntsman, Kimball was joint master of the Fitzwilliam Hunt 1952 and 1953, and the Cottesmore Hunt 1953–58. He was chairman of the British Field Sports Society 1966–82, and its President 1996–98. He was vice-president of its successor organisation, the Countryside Alliance from 1998. He indirectly gave money to an anti-field sports organisation after an Industrial Tribunal ruled that he sacked his housekeeper unfairly and she donated part of her compensation.[6]

Other interests

In March 1993, he was appointed Chairman of the British Greyhound Racing Trust, a position he held until 1996.[7][8] He also held senior positions in show jumping, light horse breeding organisations and in the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

He died at the age of 85 on 26 March 2014.[9]

Arms

Coat of arms of Marcus Kimball

Coronet Coronet of a Baron Crest In front of two Arrows points downwards saltirewise Gules a Bull's Head erased Sable armed Or ducally gorged also Gules between two Branches of Laurel fructed proper Escutcheon Argent a Pale Gules charged with a Lion rampant of the field on a Chief Sable a Bezant between two Crescents Or Supporters On either side a Wild Turkey proper Motto Strive for the gain of all [10]

References

1. "Kimball (Life Baron UK), Marcus Richard Kimball", Dod's Parliamentary Companion, ed. Andrew Cox, et al,, Vacher Dod Publishing, 1999
2. "Thatcher papers show Falkland islands doubts in heart of Downing Street". The Guardian. 22 March 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
3. "Lord Kimball – obituary". The Telegraph. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
4. "No. 48700". The London Gazette. 7 August 1981. p. 10262.
5. "No. 50123". The London Gazette. 15 May 1985. p. 6742.
6. Britten, Nick (8 April 2002). "Hunt-supporting peer's payout will go to animal rights group" – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
7. "Remember When March". Greyhound Star. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
8. "MPs and Lords". members.parliament. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
9. "Lord Kimball". UK Parliament website. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
10. "Life Peerages - K".

• Times Guide to the House of Commons, 1966 & 1979
• Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages
• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Marcus Kimball