William Brass, 1st Baron Chattisham


William Brass, 1st Baron Chattisham, known as Sir William Brass between 1929 and 1945, was a British Conservative Party politician.

Early life

Brass was a sportsman and a soldier before entering politics, and served with the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force in the First World War.

Political career

He was elected to the House of Commons as the Member of Parliament for Clitheroe in 1922, a seat he retained until 1945, and held posts at the Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Aircraft Production in 1941. He was also Chairman of the British Film Institute from 1939 to 1945. Brass was knighted in 1929 and in 1945 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Chattisham, of Clitheroe in the County Palatine of Lancaster.

Personal life

Lord Chattisham died at 20 Devonshire Place, Marylebone, on 24 August 1945, aged 59. Although cremated at Golders Green his ashes were interred at West Norwood Cemetery. He never married and the barony became extinct on his death.