DICKSON-POYNDER, SIR JOHN POYNDER
(LORD ISLINGTON), Baronet, Lieutenant, was born in 1866. He assumed the name
of Poynder on succeeding to his maternal uncle's property in 1881, and
succeeded his uncle as 6th Baronet (created 1802) in 1884. He was educated at
Harrow and Christ Church, Oxford; was a Member of the London County Council
for St George's, Hanover Square, from 1898 to 1904, and Conservative Member of
Parliament for the Chippenham Division of Wiltshire, 1892 to 1910. He joined
the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, and served in the South African War with the
Imperial Yeomanry, taking part in operations in the Transvaal, west of
Pretoria, including actions at Zilikat's Nek, Elands River (4 to 6 August) and
Venterskroon (7 to 9 August); operations in Orange River Colony, including
actions at Lindley (1 to 26 June) and Rhenoster River. For his services he
was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 10 Sept, 1901]; received the
Queen's Medal with three clasps, and was created a Companion of the
Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 27 September 1901]: "Sir John
Poynder Dickson-Poynder, Baronet, Lieutenant, 1st Battalion Imperial
Yeomanry. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa".
The Insignia were presented by the King 29 October 1901. He retired from the
Royal Scots, and subsequently from the Wiltshire Yeomanry. In 1910 he became
1st Baron Islington, and was Governor of New Zealand from 1910 to 1912,
becoming Honorary Colonel of the 9th New Zealand Mounted Rifles, March 1911;
became a Privy Councillor and KCMG in 1911 and GCMG in 1913. Lord Islington
was Under Secretary of State for the Colonies from 1914 to 1915, and
Parliamentary Under Secretary for India from 1915 to 1918. He married, in
1886, Anne, daughter of R H D Dundas and Catherine Anne, daughter of the 2nd
Baron Napier of Magdala, and they had one daughter.
