John James (Jack) Lawson, Baron Lawson, 1881-1965

Jack Lawson was born in Whitehaven, but moved to Co. Durham at an early age. He began work in the pits (Boldon Colliery) at the age of 12. After a short period at Ruskin College, Oxford, in his twenties, he returned to the pits and came increasingly to prominence as a miners' leader. In 1919 he was elected to Parliament. He was Labour M.P. for Chester-le-Street 1919-1949, was in the first Labour government, 1924, as Financial Secretary to the War Office, again held junior ministerial office from 1929-1931 as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour, and was Secretary of State for War August 1945-October 1946, and Lord-lieutenant of Co. Durham 1949-1958.

He published several books, including A man's life (London, 1932), an autobiography of his early life, and numerous articles, partly supporting himself during his parliamentary career and afterwards by his journalism. He was created Baron Lawson in 1950.

From the guide to the Jack Lawson Papers, 1894-1980s, (Durham University Library, Archives and Special Collections)