Frederick James Marquis was born in Ordsall, Salford, in 1883. He was an executive at Lewis's department store in Liverpool, and became its managing director. He was awarded a knighthood in 1935, and a peerage three years later. Unable to take the title Baron Marquis (because his surname was too close to 'Marquess'), he adopted instead the name of the Liverpool suburb where he had lived.
He initially declined to associate himself with any political party, but in 1940 he was appointed Minister of Food by Neville Chamberlain. He introduced the rationing system that was seen as a major success story in Britain's war, and promoted several recipes designed to make the best use of the food that was available – of which the Woolton pie was probably the best–known example. It was created by Francis Latry, Maitre Chef de Cuisine at the Savoy Hotel in London.
After Churchill's defeat in the 1945 General Election, Woolton joined the Conservative Party and soon became its Chairman. After the Conservatives were returned to power in 1951, he served in the Cabinet for the next four years. He was elevated to the title Viscount Woolton in 1953, and Earl of Woolton and Viscount Walberton in 1956. He died in 1964, aged 81.
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