Godman Irvine

Who was Godman Irvine?

Sir Bryant Godman Irvine was a Canadian-born British Conservative politician.

Irvine was born to William Henry and Ada Mary Irvine and raised in Toronto. He was educated at Upper Canada College in Toronto and then moved to Britain to attend St Paul's School and Magdalen College, Oxford, where he was secretary of the Oxford Union. He became a barrister, called to the bar by Inner Temple in 1932, and was a farmer. During World War II Irvine was a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.

Irvine contested Wood Green in 1951. He was Member of Parliament for Rye from 1955 to 1983. He was secretary of the 1922 Committee 1965-66, and from 1976-82 he served as a Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons under George Thomas.

Irvine was married to Valborg Cecilie from 1945 until her death in 1990.