John Ganzoni, 1st Baron Belstead

Francis John Childs Ganzoni, 1st Baron Belstead, (19 January 1882 – 15 August 1958 ) was a Conservative Party politician in England.

Personal life

Born to Julius Charles Ganzoni and Mary Frances Childs, Ganzoni was educated at Tonbridge School and Christ Church, Oxford, from which he received a Master of Arts in 1906. In that same year he became a barrister with membership of the Inner Temple.

On 31 May 1930, he married Gwendolen Gertrude Turner. He was the father of John Ganzoni, 2nd Baron Belstead.

Public service

Ganzoni served in the First World War with the 4th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment; he rose to the rank of Captain. On 23 May 1914 he won a by-election to become the Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for the formerly Liberal constituency of Ipswich, a position he would hold, with the exception of a brief period from 1923 to 1924, until 1938.

During his parliamentary career he held other positions. He served as Chairman of the Private Bills Committee from 1923 to 1938. In 1924 he became Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Postmaster-General, retaining that position until 1929. He held the office of Deputy Lieutenant (DL) of Suffolk.

Honours and arms Honours Ganzoni was knighted in the 1921 New Year Honours. On 1 March 1929, his baronetcy was announced and he was created a Baronet, of Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk for "political and public services" on 30 March 1929. In the 1938 New Year Honours, his barony for "political and public services" was announced and he was raised to the peerage as Baron Belstead, of Ipswich, Suffolk, on 28 January 1938. He was invested as a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS).

Coat of arms