28 Facts About Edward Shortt

Edward Shortt, KC was a British lawyer and Liberal Party politician.

Edward Shortt served as a member of David Lloyd George's cabinet, most significantly as Home Secretary from 1919 to 1922.

Edward Shortt was educated at Durham School, where he was a King's scholar and competed for the school boat club.

Edward Shortt continued his education at the neighbouring Durham University, where he was Lindsay scholar at University College and for two years competed for Durham University Boat Club.

Edward Shortt did not excel academically, taking a gentleman's degree in Classics in 1884.

One, Dr William Rushton Edward Shortt, was a surgeon who acted as a Civil Surgeon to the Natal Field Force during the Second Boer War and was present at the Relief of Ladysmith.

Edward Shortt was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple in 1890 and practised on the North Eastern Circuit.

Edward Shortt soon acquired a large junior practice in both civil and criminal cases, with his 'breezy personality' making him an effective advocate in front of juries.

Edward Shortt's business being mostly in the North East, he was little known in London at this time.

Edward Shortt was appointed as Recorder of Sunderland in 1907 and took silk in 1910.

In 1908, Edward Shortt was an unsuccessful candidate for Newcastle upon Tyne in a by-election, losing a seat previously held by the party when the Social Democratic Federation put up a candidate against him.

When Lloyd George came to power in 1916, Edward Shortt was appointed to the government.

Edward Shortt took an active interest in Irish affairs and became known for his frequent interventions during the debates over the Third Home Rule Bill.

Edward Shortt gave his support to an unusual plan to encourage Irish soldiers to join the French army, while persuading the Roman Catholic hierarchy in Ireland to support conscription.

Once the war was over, Edward Shortt was promoted to Home Secretary in January 1919, during the middle of a police strike.

Edward Shortt reprieved Ronald True, who had been condemned to death for murder, after finding the issue of his sanity in doubt.

Edward Shortt was unpopular with some people in Parliament because of his regional partiality: tending to appoint barristers from the North East to many top posts.

Edward Shortt was in favour of denying entry to Mormon missionaries, with the Home Office believing such a policy would prove unpopular with the public.

Edward Shortt subsequently held a number of official posts, including the chairmanship of the committees on the rating of machinery, trusts, heavy motor traffic, and the investigation into the Agricultural Marketing Act.

Edward Shortt generally followed previous policy of a highly restrictive licensing.

Consequently, Edward Shortt was concerned enough to view the film himself instead of one of his censors, and he imposed a ban throughout the country.

Edward Shortt banned 120 films in five years and in 1932 ordered cuts to 382, a record number; one of which was Red-Headed Woman, starring Jean Harlow.

Edward Shortt introduced the 'H' rating, which was the origin of the later X rated film.

Edward Shortt was very upfront about the power of cinema to shape public opinion:.

Edward Shortt's company was one of the first specialist security firms to be established in the modern era, and provided guarding services.

Edward Shortt married Isabella Stewart Scott, who had been born in Valparaiso, Chile to British parents.

Edward Shortt served as Worshipful Master of the lodge in 1919 and again in 1926 and 1927.

Edward Shortt died on 10 November 1935 at his home in London, 140 Oakwood Court in Kensington at the age of 73.