Herbert Matthews (agriculturalist) explained

Sir Alfred Herbert Henry Matthews (25 July 1870  - July 1958) was an English agriculturalist and politician.^[1]

Early life and education

Matthews was born in Hanborough, Oxfordshire, the son of Alfred Thomas Matthews, a civil servant and journalist, and Elizabeth Townsend.^[2] He was educated at College House School, Edmonton.^[1]

Career

Matthews became the Secretary of the Central Chamber of Agriculture in 1901 and continued in this role until 1927.^[3] In 1926, Matthews took a reduction in his salary of £120 to ensure that the finances of the Central Chamber remained stable, in return for a decrease in expenditure.^[4]

Matthews was President of the Institute of Traffic Administration^[5] and also President of the Industrial Transport Association.^[6] Matthews was also a President of the Mansion Housing Association and a Chairman of Fraser Trust Ltd.^[7] Matthews also sat on the Agricultural Committee of the British Science Guild.^[8] In Parliament, Lord Lloyd referenced Sir Herbert, saying "I need not tell your Lordships who Sir Herbert Matthews is or cite the value of his authority to you: it is well known."^[9]

He was knighted in 1916.^[1]

Personal life

In 1900, Matthews married Ada Glover Mace (died 1948), daughter of William Glover Mace.^[10] Following her death, he married secondly Alma Gordon, widow of Major Clisdal.^[1]

Published works

• Fifty Years of Agricultural Politics: Being the History of the Central Chamber of Agriculture (1915)

See also

• Rural Party (UK)

Notes and References

1. News: Obituary: Sir Herbert Matthews . . 24 July 1958. 10. Sir Herbert Matthews, whose death within four days of his eighty-eighth birthday was briefly reported in The Times yesterday....
2. 1891 England Census
3. News: Chambers of Agriculture and Sir Herbert Matthews. 20 February 2015. Gloucester Journal. 7 May 1927.
4. News: English Chamber's Finances. 20 February 2015. Aberdeen Journal. 4 November 1926.
5. News: Institute of Traffic Administration Advances. 20 February 2015. Commercial Motor. 28 December 1945.
6. News: Britain's six months' grain reserve. https://web.archive.org/web/20150220131631/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/britain-at-war/5578903/Britains-six-months-grain-reserve-June-27-1939.html. dead. 20 February 2015. 20 February 2015. The Telegraph. 27 June 1939.
7. News: Personal Pars. 20 February 2015. Commercial Motor. 18 September 1942.
8. Book: Guild. British Science. Annual Report of the Executive Committee, 1917. 2013. Forgotten Books (Original work published 1917). London. 20.
9. United Kingdom. Shipping. House of Lords. 30 July 1936. 415. Lord Lloyd.
10. Book: Walford. Edward. The county families of the United Kingdom; or, Royal manual of the titled and untitled aristocracy of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. 1919. 246.