Gordon Hall Caine

Gordon Ralph Hall Caine (15 August 1884 - 26 June 1962) was a British publisher and Conservative politician.

Caine was born into an Isle of Man family, the son of novelist Hall Caine and his wife Mary Chandler. He was born at Hampstead London.

His father had dramatic interests in America and in 1902 Gordon Caine was in America to study business methods and consider publishing an American version of Household Words.^[1] With his brother, Derwent Hall Caine, he founded the publishing house The Reader's Library.^[2] In 1920 as Deputy Controller of Paper, he was awarded the CBE.^[3]

At the 1922 general election Hall Caine was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for East Dorset as an Independent Conservative. He took the Conservative Whip in 1923 and held the seat until the 1929 general election. In the 1931 general election he regained the East Dorset seat, this time until 1945.^[4] His brother Derwent had won Everton in 1929 as a Labour candidate, but lost it in 1931.

In 1935 the two brothers established Hall Caine Airport on the Isle of Man.^[5]

Hall Caine had residences at Greeba Castle (previously owned by his father) and at Maidenhead, Wooley Firs. In the 1950s he moved with his second wife, Sarah Tripp, into a townhouse in Park Lane, which was round the corner from his office at Old Burlington Street.

References

1. New York Times Youthful editor of Household Words may start an American version 21 October 1902
2. Mary Hammond Hall Caine and the Melodrama on Page, Stage and Screen Journal: Nineteenth Century Theatre & Film Volume 31 Issue 1, June 2004, ISSN 1748-3727
3. Supplement to London Gazette 23 November 1920
4. Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Gordon Hall Caine
5. A. M. Goodwyn (SPRING-SUMMER 1984). "Manx Electric Railway Society - History of Hall Caine Airport". Manx Transport Review No.42. Retrieved 2008-12-03. Check date values in: |date= (help)

See also

• National Portrait Gallery
• Hall Caine