Ernest Marples
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The Right Honourable The Lord Marples PC |
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| Member of the United Kingdom Parliament for Wallasey |
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In office 26 July 1945 – 28 February 1974 |
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| Preceded by | George Leonard Reakes |
| Succeeded by | Lynda Chalker |
| Postmaster General | |
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In office 17 January 1957 – 14 October 1959 |
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| Prime Minister | Harold Macmillan |
| Preceded by | Charles Hill |
| Succeeded by | Reginald Bevins |
| Minister of Transport | |
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In office 14 October 1959 – 16 October 1964 |
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| Prime Minister |
Harold Macmillan Sir Alec Douglas-Home |
| Preceded by | Harold Watkinson |
| Succeeded by | Tom Fraser |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Alfred Ernest Marples 9 December 1907 Levenshulme, Manchester, Lancashire |
| Died | 6 July 1978 (aged 70) The Princess Grace Hospital Centre, Monaco |
| Resting place | Southern Cemetery, Manchester |
| Nationality | UK |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse(s) | Ruth Dobson |
Alfred Ernest Marples, Baron Marples PC (9 December 1907 – 6 July 1978) was a British Conservative politician who served as Postmaster General and Minister of Transport.
As postmaster general he saw the introduction of the Premium Bond scheme and of postcodes. His period as Minister of Transport was controversial. He both oversaw significant construction (he opened the first section of the M1 motorway) and the closure of a considerable portion of the national railway network with the Beeching cuts. His involvement in the road construction business Marples Ridgway, of which he had been managing director, was one of repeated concern regarding possible conflict of interest.
In later life he was elevated to the peerage before fleeing to Monaco at very short notice to avoid prosecution for tax fraud.
Marples was born at 45 Dorset Road, Levenshulme, Manchester, Lancashire. His father had been a renowned engineering charge-hand and Manchester Labour campaigner, and his mother had worked in a local hat factory. Marples attended Victoria Park Council School and won a scholarship to Stretford Grammar School. By the age of 14 he was already active in the Labour Movement, as well as earning money by selling cigarettes and sweets to Manchester football crowds. He also played football for a YMCA team.
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