Baron Stevenson

Baron Stevenson was a title created in the Peerage of the United Kingdom on 7 May 1924 for James Stevenson. This was during during the first premiership of Ramsay MacDonald. He was the first person from Kilmarnock to be elevated to the peerage. On his death on 10 June 1926 the barony became extinct.

James Stevenson (born 2 April 1873) was a businessman and civil servant. He was educated at the Kilmarnock Academy. It would appear that his career there was interrupted - perhaps because his parents had had to withdraw him due to an inability to pay school fees - for when he enrolled in 1887 he had a previous admission number.

Stevenson joined the Johnnie Walker whisky blending company (1888), working his way up to become its joint Managing Director. He is credited with having come up with the company's advertising slogan 'Born in 1820 - still going strong'.

In 1912 he published a novel, 'The Kiss of Chance' (published by Eveleigh Nash, London, pp.301), under the pseudonym Roland Dunster. [ [http://catalogue.bl.uk British Library shelfmark NN.196] ]

During the First World War he was appointed to a senior position in the Ministry of Munitions and in return for his service was created a Baronet in 1917. After the war he continued in government service and from 1921 he worked as a personal adviser to Winston Churchill (then Secretary of State for the Colonies).

Immediately after World War I he was responsible for the Stevenson Plan which was an effort by the UK government to stabilise low rubber prices after a world glut of rubber.

He later chaired the Standing Committee responsible for the British Empire Exhibition (1924-5). Wembley Stadium (in London) had been built as a temporary home for the exhibition, but Scotsman Stevenson fought successfully to prevent its demolition and it continued as an English national stadium into the 21st Century.

Barons Stevenson of Holmbury (1924)

*James Stevenson, 1st Baron Stevenson of Holmbury (1873–1926) - title extinct from 1926

Barons Stevenson of Coddenham (1999)

*Henry Dennistoun Stevenson, Baron Stevenson of Coddenham (1945– )

Political Relatives

*John Keith McBroom Laird (1907-1985) Canadian Senator - 2nd cousin, once removed
*Sir Alexander Stewart Stevenson (1860-1936) Edinburgh Lord Provost - uncle
*Stewart Stevenson (1946- ) Member of the Scottish Parliament, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change - 1st cousin, once removed

References

*Rayment