Peter Blaker

Peter Allan Renshaw Blaker, Baron Blaker, KCMG, PC (4 October 1922 – 5 July 2009) was a British Conservative politician.

The Right Honourable The Lord Blaker KCMG PC
Member of Parliament for Blackpool South
In office 15 October 1964 – 16 March 1992
Preceded by	Roland Robinson
Succeeded by	Nick Hawkins
Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal
In office 10 October 1994 – 5 July 2009 Life peerage
Personal details
Born	Peter Allan Renshaw Blaker (1922-10-04)4 October 1922 British Hong Kong
Died	5 July 2009(2009-07-05) (aged 86)
Political party	Conservative
Spouse	Jennifer Dixon ​ (m. 1953)​
Children	3
Parent	Cedric Blaker (father)
Education	Shrewsbury School
Alma mater	New College, Oxford

Early life

Blaker was born in Hong Kong, son of Cedric Blaker. He was educated at Shrewsbury School before being evacuated to Canada in 1939. There he took a degree in classics, before being commissioned in the Canadian Army. On return to England he went to New College, Oxford. He qualified as a lawyer, and later joined the Foreign Office.

Political career

In 1964 he was elected Member of Parliament for Blackpool South, which he represented until 1992. In Parliament, he served as a Minister for the Army (1972–74), Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1974 and 1979–81). He was a Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence from 29 May 1981,^[1] until 9 June 1983.^[2] He was sworn of the Privy Council in the 1983 Birthday Honours,^[3] and was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) on 21 July 1983.^[4]

House of Lords

On 10 October 1994 he was created a life peer as Baron Blaker, of Blackpool in the County of Lancaster and of Lindfield in the County of West Sussex.^[5]

Coat of arms

Coat of arms of Peter Blaker

Coronet A Coronet of a Baron Crest A horse's head Sable maned Or bridled Argent reined Ermine. Escutcheon Per pale Argent and Or on a chevron Sable between three martlets volant Azure each holding in the beak a rose slipped Gules seeded Or two blackamoor heads couped Argent the ears ringed Or between three Ermine spots Argent. Supporters Dexter a wildcat guardant Or sinister a Chinese dragon also Or.[6] Motto Esto Quod Esse Videris (Be What You Seem To Be) Orders Order of St Michael & St George circlet (Appointed KCMG 1983)

Personal life

In 1953, Blaker married Jennifer Dixon, daughter of diplomat Pierson Dixon. They had one son and two daughters.^[7]

Footnotes

1. "Keele: Ministerial membership of MOD 1970-97". Archived from the original on 16 January 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2009.
2. "Keele: Ministers who left the MoD who haven't gone elsewhere in Government". Archived from the original on 19 January 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2009.
3. "No. 49375". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 June 1983. p. 1.
4. "No. 49424". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 July 1983. p. 9700.
5. "No. 53818". The London Gazette. 13 October 1994. p. 14327.
6. Debrett's Peerage. 2003. p. 164.
7. "Lord Blaker (obituary)". The Telegraph. 7 July 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2018.

References

• Times Guide to the House of Commons, 1987
• The Peerage Website

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Mr Peter Blaker

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Roland Robinson	Member of Parliament for Blackpool South 1964–1992	Succeeded by Nick Hawkins