Charles Barrie, 1st Baron Abertay


Charles Coupar Barrie, 1st Baron Abertay, was a Scottish businessman and Liberal Party and later Liberal National politician in the United Kingdom.

Background and education

Abertay was born in Glasgow, the eldest son of Sir Charles Barrie, Lord Provost of Dundee, and Jane Ann Cathro. He was educated at the High School of Dundee and Blairlodge School, Polmont.

Political career

Barrie served during the First World War in an advisory capacity at the Transport Department of the Admiralty, and latterly in the Ministry of Shipping. He was the Minister of Munitions representative in Paris during the Peace Conference, and was a Member of the Supreme Economic Council. He also served as Chairman of the Navy, Army, and Air Force Institutes and as a Member of the Advisory Council to the General Post Office. He was Liberal Member of Parliament for Elgin Burghs briefly during 1918, for Banffshire from 1918–1924 and later sat for Southampton from 1931-1940 as a Liberal National.
Barrie was appointed a CBE in 1918 and a KBE in 1921. On 26 June 1940, he was raised to the peerage as Baron Abertay, of Tullybelton in the County of Perth. He also held the Russian Order of St Stanislaus and the Danish Order of the Dannebrog.

Business career

Barrie was also a shipowner and merchant, and held a number of business appointments including as a Director of the London and North Eastern Railway, of the Central Argentine Railway, of the Mercantile Bank of India, of Phoenix Assurance Company, and of Cable and Wireless Ltd.

Personal life

In 1926, at age 51, he married Ethel Broom, only daughter of Sir James Broom. They had no children. He died at Tullybelton, Perthshire in 1940. The peerage became extinct upon his death.