McKenna, Reginald (1863–1943)

English statesman and financier. He was chancellor of the Exchequer 1915–16. Through a series of new loans, import duties, and taxes he managed to meet the rising cost of the war. In 1919 he became chairman of the London City and Midland Bank, retaining the post until his death.

He was born in London. He was Liberal MP for North Monmouthshire 1895–1918. After serving as president of the Board of Education 1907–08, he was First Lord of the Admiralty 1908–11, and at the Home Office, where he attempted to deal with the suffragette problem by the ‘Cat and Mouse Act’ of 1913. As a member of the Macmillan Committee on Finance and Industry he signed the report which appeared in 1931 just before the abandonment of the gold standard.