Rowland Prothero, 1st Baron Ernle

Rowland Edmund Prothero, 1st Baron Ernle was an English agriculturalist, author, barrister, cricketer, cricket administrator, journalist, and Unionist politician. Following a brief career as a barrister after his graduation from the University of Oxford, Prothero became an author who published several works on agriculture, amongst other publication genres. His literary career largely came to an end in 1898, when he became land agent for the 11th Duke of Bedford. Prothero then moved into politics, where he represented the Conservative Party. After unsuccessfully contesting Biggleswade in the January 1910 general election, he successfully entered the House of Commons when elected unopposed as the second Member of Parliament for Oxford University in June 1914. His interest and expertise in agriculture led to him being appointed by Prime Minister David Lloyd George as President of the Board of Agriculture in December 1916, and with it a seat in the cabinet. His efforts to introduce a guaranteed price for wheat and the successful implementation of his "plough campaign" during the First World War helped to sustain the United Kingdom for the remainder of the conflict. In January 1919 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Ernle, and subsequently resigned his parliamentary seat, followed by his presidency of the Board of Agriculture in May 1919. Prothero served as president of the Marylebone Cricket Club in 1924 and 1925, having previously played first-class cricket in his youth for the Gentlemen of England and Hampshire.