William Joynson-Hicks

William Joynson-Hicks, the son of Henry Hicks and Grace Lynn, was born on 23rd June, 1865. After being educated at Merchant Taylors' School he trained as a solicitor. In 1886 he assumed the surname Joynson-Hicks.

A member of the Conservative Party, Joynson-Hicks unsuccessfully contested the seat of North Manchester in the 1900 General Election. He also failed in the 1906 General Election but eventually won at a by-election in April 1908. A keen motorist, Joynson-Hicks was chairman of the Automobile Association (1908-1923).

In October 1922 Andrew Bonar Law appointed Joynson-Hicks as his Postmaster-General. Following the 1924 General Election, Stanley Baldwin, promoted Joynson-Hicks to the post of Home Secretary. During the General Strike Joynson-Hicks worked closely with Baldwin, Arthur Steel-Maitland (Minister of Labour) and Winston Churchill (Chancellor of the Exchequer) to defeat the miners.

The cartoonist, David Low, commented: "He was in his element rushing the police around to seize sinister documents from some branch of the then insignificant Communist Party. Most of the time it seemed to me, of all Baldwin's men, the most intolerant, narrow-minded and dictatorial of anti-democrats. Week by week, I derided his moments of triumph. A letter arrived from Jix inviting me to come along to the Home Office if ever I wanted to bring my portrait up to date. Jix's vanity and giggling goodwill were irresistible. I abhored his politics but I liked him and he liked me. There he was at the Home Office with a heap of reproductions of my bloodhound cartoons of himself on his writing-table, obviously put there for my benefit. I met him often after that, always with enjoyment."

Granted the title Viscount Brentford, Joynson-Hicks retired from the House of Commons before the 1929 General Election.

William Joynson-Hicks died on 8th June 1932.

Primary Sources

(1) David Low, Autobiography (1956)

My personal contacts with the Tory Party were slight until I became acquainted with the Home Secretary. Sir William Joynson-Hicks (Jix for short) was a spectacular success as a "red" hunter. He was in his element rushing the police around to seize sinister documents from some branch of the then insignificant Communist Party. Most of the time it seemed to me, of all Baldwin's men, the most intolerant, narrow-minded and dictatorial of anti-democrats. Week by week, I derided his moments of triumph. A letter arrived from Jix inviting me to come along to the Home Office if ever I wanted to bring my portrait up to date. Jix's vanity and giggling goodwill were irresistible. I abhored his politics but I liked him and he liked me. There he was at the Home Office with a heap of reproductions of my bloodhound cartoons of himself on his writing-table, obviously put there for my benefit. I met him often after that, always with enjoyment. For years we exchanged Christmas presents regularly, I a little drawing, he a box of cigars: "With best wishes from your devoted assassin, Low": "With all good wishes from your most loyal victim, Jix."