John Poynder Dickson-Poynder, 1st Baron Islington, GCMG,GBE,DSO,KStJ,PC (31 October 1866 – 6 December 1936), born John Poynder Dickson and known as Sir John Poynder Dickson-Poynder from 1884 to 1910, was a British politician. He was Governor of New Zealand between 1910 and 1912.
Early life
The son of Rear Admiral John Bourmaster Dickson and Sarah Matilda Dickson (née Poynder), [1] he was born on the Isle of Wight and educated at Twyford School, Harrow and Christ Church, Oxford.[2] In 1884 he succeeded his uncle as sixth baronet, and on succeeding to his maternal uncle's property he assumed by royal licence the additional surname of Poynder in 1888.[1][3] The Poynder estates in Wiltshire included Hilmarton near Calne,[4] and Hartham near Corsham, where Dickson-Poynder carried out alterations c. 1888.[5]
He married Anne Beauclerk Dundas (c.1869-1958)[6] the daughter of James Dundas of Dundas and granddaughter of Baron Napier of Magdala. They had one daughter, Joan, who was later Joan, Lady Altrincham who organised nursing in Africa.[7]
Dickson-Poynder was first commissioned into the volunteer battalion of the Royal Scots, but transferred to the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry where he was promoted to captain on 7 December 1898. He volunteered for active service in the Second Boer War, and was commissioned a lieutenant in the 1st Battalion (Wiltshire Company) Imperial Yeomanry on 7 February 1900,[2][9] leaving Liverpool for South Africa on the SS Cymric in early March 1900.[10] Appointed a quartermaster during the voyage (dated 10 March 1900),[11] he was back as a regular lieutenant in the Wiltshire company of the 1st battalion the following month. He later served on the Staff as aide-de-camp to Lord Methuen, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on 29 November 1900.[12] Following his resignation from the Imperial Yeomanry, he was on 5 February 1901 granted the rank of honorary lieutenant of the Army.[13] The following year, he was promoted to major in the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry on 31 May 1902.[14]
Lord Islington died on 6 December 1936 aged 70 at Hyde Park Gardens, London, and was buried at Hilmarton, Wiltshire, his barony and baronetcy becoming extinct at his death. Lady Islington subsequently rented Dyrham Park in Gloucestershire, where she ran a nursery during the Second World War.[19]
Arms
Coat of arms of John Dickson-Poynder, 1st Baron Islington
Notes
The arms of John Dickson-Poynder, Lord Islington consist of:[20]
Quarterly: 1st and 4th, pily counterpily of four traits or and sable, the points ending in crosses formée, two in chief and one in base, in the centre chief point a castle of the second and in base two martlets of the first, a chief azure, thereon a key erect, the wards upwards and to the sinister gold between a rose on the dexter and a fleur-de-lis on the sinister argent, Poynder; 2nd and 3rd, azure, an anchor erect encircled with an oak wreath vert between three mullets pierced or; on a chief paly of seven of the last and gules, a mural crown argent, Dickson.
Supporters
Dexter, an eagle proper; sinister, a lion gules; each gorged with a collar or, pendant therefrom a bezant charged with a rose gules.