header-logo header-logo

25 February 2021 / Alec Samuels
Issue: 7922 / Categories: Features , Constitutional law
printer mail-detail

Viscount Haldane: the forgotten statesman

40738
Alec Samuels reflects on the life & times of Viscount Haldane

Viscount Haldane (1856-1928) statesman, philosopher, and lawyer, made an extraordinary impact upon his life and times, and beyond. A Scot, from Oxford he went to the English Bar, became a QC in his thirties, specialising in property and constitutional law, was 25 years an MP, and over ten years a cabinet minister. The Order of Merit was recognition indeed as one of the top 20 public figures in the country in his time. Today we would characterise him as an intellectual polymath.

The secretary of state for war (1905-1912), Haldane reorganised the army, set up the territorials, founded the Royal Flying Corps, and thoroughly prepared the army for the Great War. Field Marshal Lord Haig, commander in chief of the army for the latter part of WWI, visited Haldane at the end of the war and acknowledged Haldane as the greatest single contributor to victory.

For his 17 years as a judge, many contributions to our jurisprudence may be found

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

DAC Beachcroft—Clare Dewar

DAC Beachcroft—Clare Dewar

DAC Beachcroft strengthens Scottish real estate capabilitywith partner appointment

Womble Bond Dickinson—Brendan Ryan

Womble Bond Dickinson—Brendan Ryan

Womble Bond Dickinson appoints Brendan Ryan as partner in Public Law Projects team

Parklane Plowden Chambers—five appointments

Parklane Plowden Chambers—five appointments

Parklane Plowden Chambers welcomes five new barristers

NEWS
Pro bono is celebrating a silver anniversary, with initiatives putting businesses and students at the heart of access to justice
Choosing the wrong expert can cost a clinical negligence claimant more than their case
Judges risk weakening their own independence by staying silent over government reforms, a leading public lawyer argues
A discount on damages does not automatically mean an equivalent haircut for legal costs in military deafness claims
Police powers targeting concealed identities at protests come with procedural conditions that could determine whether prosecutions succeed
back-to-top-scroll