John Colville, 1st Baron Clydesmuir

David John Colville, 1st Baron Clydesmuir, (13 February 1894 – 31 October 1954), was a Scottish Unionist politician, colonial administrator, and industrialist. He was director of his family's steel and iron business, David Colville & Sons as well as the final Governor of Bombay.

Early life and education The only son of John Colville MP, of Cleland, Lanarkshire, and Christina Marshall Colville, he was educated at Charterhouse and at Trinity College, Cambridge.

He served in World War I with the 6th Battalion of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), and was wounded.

Political career He was unsuccessful National Liberal candidate for Motherwell at the 1922 general election. Switching to the Conservative Party, Colville was unsuccessful again at a by-election in January 1929 for Midlothian and Peebles Northern, but won the seat the general election in May 1929, remaining as the constituency's Member of Parliament (MP) until 1943. He served in the National Government as Parliamentary Secretary to the Department of Overseas Trade from 1931 to 1935, as Under-Secretary of State for Scotland from 1935 to 1936, as Financial Secretary to the Treasury from 1936 to 1938 and as Secretary of State for Scotland from 1938 until 1940.

Diplomatic career and peerage Colville left Parliament in 1943 to become Governor of Bombay, a post he held until January 1948. He acted as Viceroy and Governor-General of India, in 1945, 1946 and 1947. On his return from India he was raised to the peerage as Baron Clydesmuir, of Braidwood in the County of Lanarkshire. From 1950 to 1954 Lord Clydesmuir served as a Governor of the BBC.

Colville was appointed a Privy Counsellor in 1936 and was a Brigadier in the Royal Company of Archers. He was Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire from 1952 until his death.

Marriage and children He married Agnes Anne Bilsland, daughter of Sir William Bilsland, in 1915. They had a son. Later he married Helen Markillie born in California. They had two daughters Mary Helen and Ann.

His son, Ronald Colville, 2nd Baron Clydesmuir, served as Governor of the Bank of Scotland.

Arms