Thomas Hamar Greenwood, 1st Viscount Greenwood, PC, KC (7 February 1870 – 10 September 1948), known as Sir Hamar Greenwood, 1st Baronet between 1915 and 1929, was a Canadian-born British lawyer and politician. He served as the last Chief Secretary for Ireland between 1920 and 1922 and is associated with the activities of the Black and Tans in Ireland. Both his sons died unmarried meaning that the title of Viscount Greenwood became extinct in 2003.
As Chief Secretary, Greenwood was closely identified with the aggressive use of two specially formed paramilitary forces – the Black and Tans and the Auxiliaries – during the Irish War of Independence. Lord Riddell, a close friend of Prime Minister Lloyd George stated that although Greenwood's life was in constant danger he "seems to be tackling his job with great fearlessness and to be giving the Sinn Feiners some of their own medicine."[4] After the Burning of Cork by British auxiliary forces in December 1920, Greenwood blamed the "Sinn Féin rebels" and the people of Cork for burning their own city.[5] "A Lloyd George loyalist who believed in restoring British rule in Ireland by defeating the IRA, Greenwood’s denials and evasions became so frequent that he was lampooned with the phrase 'to tell a Greenwood'."[6]
Greenwood lost his seat in the 1922 general election. At the 1924 general election, he was one of a small number of Liberals, including Winston Churchill, to stand as Constitutionalist candidates.[citation needed] These were Liberals who advocated closer ties between Liberals and Conservatives. Greenwood's candidature in Walthamstow East was supported by the local Conservative association, but not by the local Liberals, who had their own candidate, and he won the seat. After the election, when it appeared that there was no prospect of closer formal ties between the two parties, Greenwood took the Conservativewhip. He continued to represent Walthamstow East until 1929,[7] although he never held government office again.
Post-politics
Greenwood had been created a baronet, of Onslow Gardens in the Royal Borough of Kensington, in 1915,[8] and in the 1929 Dissolution Honours he was raised to the peerage as Baron Greenwood, of Llanbister in the County of Radnor.[9]
In 1937 he was further honoured when he was created Viscount Greenwood, of Holbourne in the County of London.[10] He was president of the British Iron and Steel Federation from 1938 to 1939 and chairman of the Pilgrims Society from 1945 to 1948, and president of the Pilgrims Society in 1948.
They had two sons and two daughters. Their elder son, David Henry Hamar Greenwood, succeeded his father as second Viscount.[12][13] He died unmarried and was succeeded as third Viscount by his younger brother, Michael George Hamar Greenwood, who died unmarried as well, in 2003 rendering the title extinct.[14][15]
Coat of arms of Hamar Greenwood, 1st Viscount Greenwood
Crest
A Demi Lion per fess Gules and Sable resting the sinister paw on a Portcullis Or
Escutcheon
Gules on a Chevron Ermine between three Saltires as many Portcullises Or
Supporters
On either side a Lion rampant per fess Gules and Sable supporting a Staff Or flowing therefrom a Banner Argent that on the dexter charged with a Rose Gules barbed and seeded proper and that on the sinister charged with a Maple Leaf also proper
^"Colleges". Oxford University Gazette. 133. 31 July 2003. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2014. THE HON. MICHAEL GEORGE HAMAR GREENWOOD, 7 July 2003; commoner 1942. Aged 80.
^"Viscount". Debretts. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2014. Since 1989 eight viscountcies have become extinct: Muirsheil, Furness, Watkinson, Lambert, Leverhulme, Greenwood, Cross and Ingleby, and Barrington is dormant or extinct.