Frederick James Marquis, 1st Earl of Woolton, CH, PC (23 August 1883 – 14 December 1964), was an English businessman and politician who served as chairman of the Conservative Party from 1946 to 1955.

During this time, he maintained food imports from America and organised a programme of free school meals.

[1] Woolton hoped to pursue an academic career in the social sciences, but his wish was frustrated by his family's financial circumstances, and he became a mathematics teacher at Burnley Grammar School.

At the end of the war, he became secretary of the Boot Manufacturers' Federation, joining Lewis's department store in Liverpool, where he was an executive (1928–1951), becoming director in 1928 and chairman in 1936.

Despite public support, he was reprimanded by Horace Wilson on behalf of Neville Chamberlain's National Government for diverging from its European policy of appeasement.

[4] When the Blitz began in late summer 1940, he was ready with more than 200 feeding stations in London and other cities under attack.

Calling for a simpler diet, he noted that there was plenty of bread, potatoes, vegetable oils, fats, and milk.

However, his national loaf of wholemeal brown bread replaced the ordinary white variety, to the distaste of most housewives.

Woolton's business skills made the Ministry of Food's job a success, and he earned a strong personal popularity despite the shortages.

In 1943, Woolton joined the War Cabinet as Minister of Reconstruction, taking charge of the difficult task of planning for post-war Britain and in this role, he appeared on the cover of Time on the issue of 26 March 1945.

Woolton rebuilt the local organisations with an emphasis on membership, money, and a unified national propaganda appeal on critical issues.

[18] From 1943 until 1963 he served as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the British Red Cross Society and was appointed a Knight of the Order of St John in 1947.

[19] Woolton died 14 December 1964 at his home, Walberton House, in Arundel, Sussex, when his titles devolved upon his son, Roger.

[20] Citations Bibliography Michael Kandiah & Judith Rowbotham (Editors), The Diaries and Letters of Lord Woolton 1940–1945.