Author: DALTON] [Hugh
Title: Photographic print. OUTSTANDING SIGNED PORTRAIT OF THE FOUNDER OF SOE
Description: n.d. [?1930s]. measuring 8.5 x 6.25 ins. (approx. 21.5 x 16.0 cms) printed in sepia and mounted in studio's presentation gatefold wallet with original tissue guard intact; in near fine state. SIGNED BY DALTON WITH HIS HOLOGRAPH INSCRIPTION AND SIGNATURE ACROSS LOWER RIGHT-HAND CORNER OF PORTRAIT AND MOUNT. The portrait was taken in the studio of Andrew Paterson of Inverness. Paterson was a highly successful artist-photographer whose services were sought over several decades by many leading political and commercial figures of the day. The Rt. Hon. Edward Hugh John Neale Dalton, later Baron Dalton (1887-1962), Labour politician and close friend of Winston Churchill, occupied several senior offices of state throughout his long career. During WWII he served as Minister of Economic Warfare and President of the Board of Trade, from 1945-47 as Chancellor of the Exchequer (when he nationalised the Bank of England), and from 1948-50 as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Dalton was born in Wales and educated at Eton, King's College Cambridge, the London School of Economics (LSE) and the University of London. During WWI he served as a lieutenant in France and Italy, compiling 'With British Guns in Italy' as a record of his experiences. Although a staunch Labour party member he was nevertheless a fervent supporter of Churchill during the crisis of 1940 and strongly opposed to any compromise peace as urged by Halifax and other conservatives. In his wartime coalition Churchill appointed Dalton Minister of Economic Warfare. Following Churchill's well-known instruction 'to set Europe ablaze' Dalton founded the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and was subsequently a co-founder of the Political Warfare Executive (PWE). After the surprise Labour victory in 1945 Dalton was seen (alongside Attlee, Bevin, Morrison and Cripps) as one of the 'big five' of the new administration. In 1948 he was appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and in 1950 Minister of Town and Country Planning. He retired from government after the general election of 1951 and was created a life peer as Baron Dalton on 1960. Items signed by Dalton are now very rare. His papers and diaries are held at the London School of Economics. A SCARCE AND SPLENDID SIGNED PORTRAIT IDEAL FOR PRESENTATION

Keywords: military, ww2, espionage, soe, special operations executive, hugh dalton, labour party, hugh dalton, military, espionage, pow, outstanding, signed, portrait, the, founder, soe


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