Thomas George Greenwell

Who was Thomas George Greenwell?

Colonel Thomas George Greenwell was the National Conservative Member of Parliament for The Hartlepools and the managing director of the ship-repair yard, T. W. Greenwell and Co. Ltd, a Sunderland yard which had been founded by his father in 1901.

Greenwell was educated at Gresham's School, Holt, and at King's College, Newcastle.

The by-election he won in 1943 was held according to the convention of the war years - neither the Labour Party nor the Liberal Party put up a candidate, to give the incumbent party a clear run, although an independent, a Common Wealth Party candidate and a Progressive Socialist stood. The 'swing' to the Conservatives was the largest in any by-election in the war years, largely because of Greenwell's strongly pro-Churchillian stance. Surprisingly, the post-war 1945 general election only just removed him — there was a recount. In 1951 he was appointed High Sheriff of Durham.

He was also a Justice of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenant for County Durham. In Who's Who he gave his recreation as salmon fishing. He was a member of the Carlton Club.