Edward Boyle, Baron Boyle of Handsworth

For other people named Edward Boyle, see Edward Boyle (disambiguation).

Edward Charles Gurney Boyle, Baron Boyle of Handsworth CH PC (31 August 1923 – 28 September 1981) was a British Conservative Party politician, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leeds.

Early life and career

Boyle was born in Kensington, London, the eldest son of Sir Edward Boyle, 2nd Baronet and succeeded to his father's baronetcy in 1945. He was educated at Eton and graduated from Christ Church, Oxford in 1949. From 1942–45, he was a temporary junior administration officer at the Foreign Office. He worked at Bletchley Park in intelligence.

Political career

In 1950, he entered the Parliament as MP for Birmingham Handsworth, a seat he would hold until his retirement in 1970. During this time, he was also: Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Under-Secretary of State for Air, from 1951–52 and to the Under-Secretary of State for Defence in 1952; Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Supply from 1954–55; Economic Secretary to the Treasury from 1955–56; Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Education from 1957–59; Financial Secretary to the Treasury from 1959–62; Minister of Education from 1962–64 and Minister of State for Education and Science in 1964.

He was awarded an Honorary Degree (Doctor of Laws) by the University of Bath in 1968.

After 1970

The Edward Boyle library at the University of Leeds was named in his honour.

In 1970, Boyle was awarded a life peerage as Baron Boyle of Handsworth, of Salehurst in the County of Sussex and became Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leeds that year. From 1970–81, he was a Trustee of the British Museum, Chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals of UK Universities from 1977–78.

In 1978 he had been due to deliver the Reith Lectures for the BBC. Despite 2 years preparation time, he withdrew with 3 months notice.

Boyle died in Leeds from terminal cancer aged 57 in 1981. He was unmarried and childless and his life peerage naturally became extinct, whilst his baronetcy passed to his brother, Richard.

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Sir Edward Boyle

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Harold Roberts	Member of Parliament for Birmingham Handsworth 1950–1970	Succeeded by Sydney Chapman
Political offices
Preceded by Reginald Maudling	Economic Secretary to the Treasury 1955–1956	Succeeded by Derek Walker-Smith
Preceded by Jocelyn Simon	Financial Secretary to the Treasury 1959–1962	Succeeded by Anthony Barber
Academic offices
Preceded by Roger Stevens	Vice-Chancellor, University of Leeds 1970-1981	Succeeded by William Walsh (acting)
Baronetage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Edward Boyle	Baronet (of Ockham) 1945–1981	Succeeded by Richard Boyle