Edward du Cann

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Sir Edward Dillon Lott du Cann, (born 28 May 1924) was a British Conservative politician.

Du Cann was educated at Colet Court, Woodbridge School and St. John's College, Oxford. He became a company director.

In 1951, du Cann contested Walthamstow West without success, and failed to win at Barrow-in-Furness in 1955. He was elected as Member of Parliament for Taunton in a 1956 by-election.

Du Cann was Economic Secretary to the Treasury from 1962 and Minister of State at the Board of Trade 1963-64. He was Chairman of the Conservative Party from 1965 to 1967 and was Chairman of the 1922 Committee from 1972 until 1984. In the last week of the 1975 referendum on British membership of the EEC, du Cann came out against British membership.^[1]

Du Cann was chairman of the Public Accounts Committee between 1974-79.

He retired from the House of Commons in 1987.

He succeeded Lord Duncan-Sandys as Chairman of Lonrho.

He was instrumental in creating a scholarship programme for rugby league players at Oxford University.[1]

[edit] Notes

1. ^ David Butler and Uwe Kitzinger, The 1975 Referendum (London: Macmillan, 1976), pp. 173-4.

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Henry Hopkinson	Member of Parliament for Taunton 1956–1987	Succeeded by David Nicholson
Political offices
Preceded by Lord Blakenham	Chairman of the Conservative Party 1965–1967	Succeeded by Anthony Barber
Preceded by Sir Harry Legge-Bourke	Chairman of the 1922 Committee 1972–1984	Succeeded by Cranley Onslow