George Christopher Clayton

Sir (George) Christopher Clayton (July 11, 1876 - July 28, 1945) was a British scientist, industrialist and Conservative politician.

Clayton was educated at Harrow School and Heidelberg and graduated from University College, Liverpool with a PhD in chemistry in 1896."Obituary: Sir Christopher Clayton Kt CBE PhD FRIC JP", The Times, July 31, 1945, p.6] On graduation he obtained a post with the United Alkali Company of Widnes. In 1907 he joined the board of the company.cite web |url=http://www.rsc.org/delivery/_ArticleLinking/DisplayArticleForFree.cfm?doi=AN946710157b&JournalCode=AN |title=Annual Report of Council, 1946 |accessdate=2008-09-13 |author= |date= |work= |publisher=Royal Society of Chemistry] When United Alkali was merged with three other chemical companies to from Imperial Chemical Industries in 1926, Clayton became a director of ICI.

At the 1922 general election he succeeded in regaining the Widnes constituency for the Conservative party. ["A "Key" Labour Contest", The Times, October 28, 1922, p.10] He held the seat until the 1929 election when he was defeated by his Labour Party opponent. In 1925 he was appointed by order in council to the Board of Trade Advisory Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. ["Scientific Research", The Times, September 29, 1925, p.16] At the 1931 general election he returned to parliament as MP for the Wirral Division of Cheshire. He was President of the Royal Institute of Chemistry from 1930 to 1933 and was knighted in 1933. ["King's Birthday Honours", The Times, June 3, 1933, p.17] He only sat for one term, retiring in 1935 due to his business commitments. ["Wirral Division Candidates", The Times, April 9, 1935, p.9]

Apart from being a director of ICI, Clayton was also chairman of the Liverpool Gas Company and vice-chairman of the Power Gas Corporation. ["Power Gas Corporation", The Times, December 13, 1934, p.25] ["Liverpool Gas Company", The Times, December 19, 1934, p.19]

Clayton married Mabel Valentine Grainger of Perth in 1896, and made his home at Kilry Lodge, Alyth, Perthshire, where he died in 1945 aged seventy-six.

References

###@@@KEY@@@###succession box
title = Member of Parliament for Widnes
years = 1922–1929
before = Arthur Henderson
after = Alexander Gordon Cameronsuccession box
title = Member of Parliament for Wirral
years = 1931–1935
before = John Grace
after = Alan Crosland Graham