Constituency : Hastings 1900-06, Bodmin 1906-10
Freeman took Hastings from the Tories whose incumbent stood down at the last moment after critisism of his voting record. His predecessor's wife openly supported Freeman.
Freeman was the son of a rifle officer and grandson of Viscount Hampden. he was educated at Eton and Cambridge then joined the volunteer Sussex Artillery. He served with them for 15 years reaching the rank of major before entering the diplomatic service and acting as aide-de-camp to his father-in-law Earl Brassey ( a former MP for the seat ) when Governor of Australia. He was a country gentleman who supported Rosebery and the Liberal Imperialists.
Freeman was appointed a whip in 1905 but then lost his seat, much against the trend , in 1906. He was quickly returned for Bodmin in a by-election. He then served as private secretary to Asquith.
Freeman stood down in January 1910 and was created Baron Willingdon. He became a lord-in-waiting to George V the following year and a favoured tennis companion. In 1913 he was appointed Crown Governor of Bombay where he aided the war effort by treating wounded soldiers during the Mesopotamian Campaign. He clashed with Gandhi over payment of taxes before resigning the position in 1918.
Freeman was soon sent back to India as Governor of Madras. He had to declare martial law in 1921 to quell riots. When his tenure ended in 1924 he was upgraded to a viscount.
In 1926 Freeman was appointed Governor-General of Canada by the King, rather against Baldwin's wishes. Changes to dominion status meant Freeman's duties were largely ceremonial. When his tenure ended in 1931 he was upgraded to an earl and made viceroy and Governor-General of India. In 1932 he imprisoned Gandhi and other leaders to quell the Civil Disobedience Movement. His tenure ended in 1936 and Edward VIII upgraded him to a Marquess.
He died in 1941 aged 74.
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