Auckland Geddes , 1st Baron Geddes Auckland Campbell - Geddes , 1st Baron Geddes , ( 21 June 1879 – 8 June 1954 ) was a British academic , soldier , politician and diplomat . He was a member of David Lloyd George ' s coalition government during the First World War and also served as Ambassador to the United States . Background . Geddes was the son of Auckland Campbell - Geddes and the brother of Sir Eric Campbell - Geddes , First Lord of the Admiralty during World War I and principal architect of the Geddes Axe , which led to the retrenchment of British public expenditure following World War I . Military career . Geddes served in the Second Boer War as a Lieutenant ( 3rd class ) in the Highland Light Infantry between 1901 and 1902 . During the First World War he served as a Major in the 17th Northumberland Fusiliers and was on the staff of the General Headquarters in France as a Brevet Lieutenant - Colonel and Honorary Brigadier General . Academic career . Geddes was educated at George Watson ' s College , in Edinburgh , and at Edinburgh University . From 1906 to 1909 , Geddes was an Assistant Professor of Anatomy at Edinburgh University and from 1913 to 1914 he was a Professor of Anatomy at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland . From 1913 to 1914 , he was a Professor of Anatomy at McGill University . Political and diplomatic career . Geddes was Director of Recruiting at the War Office from 1916 to 1917 . The latter year he was elected Unionist Member of Parliament for UK Parliament constituency , a seat he held until 1920 . He was sworn of the Privy Council in 1917 and served under David Lloyd George as Director of National Service from 1917 to 1918 , as President of the Local Government Board from 1918 to 1919 , as Minister of Reconstruction in 1919 and as President of the Board of Trade ( with a seat in the cabinet ) from 1919 to 1920 . Geddes was appointed Principal of McGill University in 1919 but never undertook his official duties . He resigned in 1920 when he was appointed British Ambassador to the United States which he served until 1924 . As His Majesty ' s ambassador , Geddes investigated the treatment of British immigrants at Ellis Island , for which he wrote a report ( 1923 ) . He was also heavily involved in the negotiations that led up to the Washington Treaty of 1922 , which limited the size and number of the world ' s battleships . From 1924 to 1947 , he was the Chairman of the Rio Tinto Company and Rhokana Corporation . He returned to public service during the Second World War when he served as Commissioner for Civil Defence for the South - East Region from 1939 to 1944 and for the North - West Region from 1941 to 1942 . The latter year he was raised to the peerage as Baron Geddes , of Rolvenden in the County of Kent . Family . Lord Geddes married Isabella , daughter of William Adolphus Ross , in 1906 . They had five children : Ross Campbell - Geddes , 2nd Baron Geddes , Lieutenant - Colonel the Hon . Alexander Campbell - Geddes , the Hon . Margaret Campbell - Geddes who married Prince Louis of Hesse and by Rhine , last surviving member of this family , the Hon . John Reay Campbell - Geddes and the Hon . David Campbell - Geddes . Lord Geddes died in January 1954 , aged 74 , and was succeeded in the barony by his eldest son , Ross . Lady Geddes died in January 1962 .