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Nigel Birch, Baron Rhyl

1906 – 1981

British politician

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About Nigel Birch, Baron Rhyl

Lived 1906 – 1981 (aged 74). Nigel Birch, Baron Rhyl was a British politician.

Evelyn Nigel Chetwode Birch, Baron Rhyl (18 November 1906 – 8 March 1981) was a British Conservative politician.

The son of General Sir Noel Birch and his wife Florence Chetwode, Nigel Birch was educated at Eton. He was a partner in Cohen Laming Hoare until May 1939 when he retired to study politics. He served in World War II in the King's Royal Rifle Corps and on General Staff, being promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in 1944. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1945.

He was Conservative Member of Parliament for Flintshire from 1945 to 1950 and for West Flintshire from 1950 to 1970. He served in government as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Air from 1951 to 1952, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence from 1952 to 1954, Minister of Works from October 1954 to December 1955, Secretary of State for Air from December 1955 to January 1957 and Economic Secretary to the Treasury from 1957 to 1958.

His resignation in 1958, along with that of the Chancellor of the Exchequer Peter Thorneycroft and fellow Treasury Minister Enoch Powell, was described by Harold Macmillan as "little local difficulties".

In 1950 he married Esmé Glyn, the daughter of the 4th Baron Wolverton.

In 1955, he was appointed a privy counsellor, and on 7 July 1970, he was created a life peer as Baron Rhyl, of Holywell in the parish of Swanmore in the County of Southampton.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Education
Eton College
Positions held
Member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, Member of the 44th Parliament of the United Kingdom, Member of the 43rd Parliament of the United Kingdom, Member of the 42nd Parliament of the United Kingdom
Awards
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Also known as
Evelyn Nigel Chetwode Birch, Baron Rhyl of Holywell

People in Nigel Birch, Baron Rhyl's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Nigel Birch, Baron Rhyl's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Nigel Birch, Baron Rhyl?

British politician (1906-1981)

When was Nigel Birch, Baron Rhyl born?

Nigel Birch, Baron Rhyl was born on 18 November 1906.

When did Nigel Birch, Baron Rhyl die?

Nigel Birch, Baron Rhyl died on 8 March 1981.

What was Nigel Birch, Baron Rhyl's occupation?

Nigel Birch, Baron Rhyl was a politician.

What nationality was Nigel Birch, Baron Rhyl?

Nigel Birch, Baron Rhyl was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Nigel Birch, Baron Rhyl

· Wikidata: Q7032247

· DBpedia: Nigel Birch, Baron Rhyl

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Nigel Birch, Baron Rhyl. https://biography.guide/nigel-birch-baron-rhyl/

MLA: "Nigel Birch, Baron Rhyl." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/nigel-birch-baron-rhyl/.

Chicago: "Nigel Birch, Baron Rhyl." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/nigel-birch-baron-rhyl/.

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