Ion Hamilton Benn

Captain Sir Ion Hamilton Benn, 1st Baronet, (31 March 1863 – 12 August 1961) was a British politician and businessman. He was a Conservative member of parliament from 1910 to 1922.

Early life, family and business career Benn was born in County Cork, Ireland. He was the third son of the Reverend J. W. Benn, Church of Ireland rector of Carrigaline and Douglas, and his wife Maria (née Hamilton). He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School and then joined Price & Pierce Ltd, a leading timber firm. He later became a director and then chairman. At the next general election in January 1910 he was the sole Conservative candidate in the constituency and was elected to parliament. which on 1 April 1908 became the 20th Battalion, London Regiment (Blackheath and Woolwich).

A long-time member of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Benn saw active service in the First World War, being commissioned into the Royal Naval Reserve with the temporary rank of lieutenant-commander on 12 October 1914, and receiving promotion to temporary commander in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on 10 April 1915.

For three years he was the commander of a flotilla of Motor Launches in the Dover Patrol, taking part in the Zeebrugge Raid and the First and Second Ostend Raids. He was also awarded the Croix de Guerre by France in recognition of his services at Zeebrugge and at Ostend on 22–23 April 1918, and on 28 August 1918 was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (Military Division), in recognition of his distinguished services during the Second Ostend Raid.

Post-war Benn was created a baronet in the June 1920 Birthday Honours for his political services. He retired from parliament at the 1922 election. and on 11 May 1926 received the Territorial Decoration. Benn served on the executive committee of the National Playing Fields Association from its inaugural meeting at the Royal Albert Hall in July 1925.

From 1937 he was chairman of the seamen's Dreadnought Hospital in Greenwich, and became its president in 1949, serving until 1962.

Benn was once again a member of the London County Council from 1937 to 1946.