The Altrincham Aces are a semi-professional and amateur ice hockey team of the English National Ice Hockey League, based out of the Altrincham Ice Dome, situated on Oakfield Road in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, England.

The team was initially founded in 1961, the team were based out of the old Altrincham Ice Rink, situated on Devonshire Road in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, England, and played until 2003, when the rink was sold, then demolished to make way for a new housing development.

During the period 1986–1995, the team was known as the Trafford Metros, as the team was in part funded by Trafford council. This name was revived in 2009, but then altered to the Manchester Minotaurs in 2013. Until recently the team was affiliated to the Manchester Phoenix a team playing in the English Premier League.

In the course of the team's existence, they played in a variety of regional and national leagues, in the largely amateur structure of the sport within the UK.

In 2015 the Aces were re-formed and entered the English National Ice Hockey League . The team, alongside Widnes Wild, are affiliated to the Manchester Storm (2015–).

Club roster 2022-23
(*) Denotes a Non-British Trained player (Import)

2021/22 Outgoing

Early years
The Aces were formed not long after the collapse of the old British League, and initially played in regional games. In 1967 they became a member of the newly created Northern League, initially playing in the league's 2nd Division. During their 2nd season in this league they had to withdraw as a number of Scottish teams refused to travel as far south as Altrincham to play games.

The 1970s
The Altrincham Aces first appeared on the British ice hockey scene on 4 February 1961, a large home crowd of 2500 witnessing a 9-5 defeat by the Glasgow Flyers. British ice hockey had just seen the failure of the British League and ice hockey survived in several tournaments or series of challenge matches. The team put together by rink manager, Ken Bailey, in the early years included some of the best players in the country including Canadians Chick Zamick (a Nottingham Panthers legend) and Art Hodgins (the Aces' first player-coach) (both are now in the British Ice Hockey Hall of Fame) and GB players Terry Matthews (also a Hall of Famer), Dave Lammin, Derek Metcalfe, Ian Forbes, Sam McDonald, Bert Smith, Mike Jordan and Ian Dobson. Devonshire Road staged a home international in 1962, Scotland beating England 8-4. After their first defeat, the Aces went undefeated at home against the country's top teams for two years until they lost 5-4 in overtime to the Brighton Tigers in a Cup final replay. Canadians Bob Bergeron and Bruce Beattie starred in the Aces team of 63-64 after many of the GB internationals returned North as Scottish and NE teams got ready to form the Northern League in 1966. Local businessman, Tom Kelly, was an important team sponsor at this time. Aces hockey became more home grown than in the early years as League hockey slowly re-established itself. Aces had joined Division 2 of the Northern League in 1967 playing games against Scottish and North Eastern opposition and endured what must have been some quite lengthy journeys North in the days before an extensive motorway network but had to pull out in their second year when some of their Scottish opponents declined to travel to Altrincham. Bob Gilbert was a fixture in the Aces net and local players such as Roy Warren, Tim Owen, Maurice Wise and Mike O'Gara were later joined by Canadian Stan Windross and also by Beattie, the latter returning to the team in 1969.

The Aces were founder members of the Southern League formed in 1970. The team management included two men who were to have an involvement (on and off) for twenty years, Graham Nurse and Keith Purvis. Aces finished as runners-up to Sussex Senators in the first year with Tim Owen top scoring. Fred Kuster and others added a Swiss flavour in 1972 before Canadian Jim Franceschini led the Aces to their first League success in 1972-73 (the side also including Joe Greenberg (NM), Warren, Graham Horlock, Owen, Beattie, Windross, John Earlam, Sandy Watt, Dave Lawton and Mick Tapsell). Aces were runners-up in 1973-74 despite the addition of Canadians Leo Franchino and brothers Rick and Ron Drennan. Rick Drennan set Southern League scoring records but despite the Aces being ahead on aggregate in the games against title rivals Streatham Redskins, the Londoners would take the trophy on goal average. The Aces also played the London Lions, a Wembley-based pro team, at Deeside, losing 11-3 with several Lions guesting for the Aces. Altrincham ice hockey went back to being more home based but still relatively successful as runners up places followed in 1975-76, 1976–77 and 1978–79 (Inter City League) with Franceschini and Owen regularly near the top of the League scoring charts. The 76 and 77 titles were both lost in home and away playoff defeats to Streatham after the Aces had won the Midland Division, Streatham triumphed again in 79 after the sides had finished level on points, the Redskins prevailing on results between the sides after a crucial 5-2 home decider victory over the Aces (the teams had previously drawn 4-4 in Altrincham). Thereafter, Inter City League positions were restricted by the likes of Streatham, Southampton and Richmond being able to call on greater resources than the Aces. As the likes of Owen and then Warren retired, young players such as Ged Smith (a debut in 76 aged 15), Pete Broadhurst and Paul Bayliss were coming through. In 1975, Paul O'Sullivan played two matches with the team, before returning active military service.

The 1980s
The Aces were instrumental in the formation of an eight team English National League in 1981-82 although the Aces finished in bottom place (and mid table in the English League South as the ICL was now known) with a team including imports, Tommy Gentile and Alan Potts. Gentile returned in 1982-83 with American defenceman Dave Cicerchia and Canadian winger, Don Boyd (still rated highly by many today). The English League had developed into a British National League with three interlocking groups. Aces won Group C with the highlight probably being the 8-7 away victory over Streatham (then one of the top two teams in the country) with a shorthanded winner coming from Boyd in the closing stages. Aces missed out on a place in the National Playoffs after a controversial away decider in the qualifier against Cleveland Bombers but could still claim fifth place overall. A familiar face from the 60s, Bruce Beattie, made several appearances once his non import status had been confirmed.
Financial constraints meant the Aces had to decline an invitation to join the new ten team Heineken Premier League in 1983-84 and lined up in the eleven team Division One instead. The retirements of netminder Ray Williams and forward Ian Turton had weakened the side and the three new imports would be American netminder, Jeff Johnson, forward Matt Weedon and defenceman Jeff 'Boom Boom' Epps. Dave Shepherd played his first full season on the wing. A difficult season wasn't helped by the departure midway through of Ged Smith and Pete Broadhurst to Nottingham Panthers and the Aces eventually finished seventh. Johnson and Epps returned to be joined by Dave Creasey in 1984-85 although Creasey was eventually replaced by Mark Stancampiano as Aces slipped a place to eighth. Despite Johnson's ability, the Aces were at a disadvantage to their rivals who were all able to play an extra foreign forward.

1985-86 saw Jeff Epps in his third season being joined by experienced forwards Jim Gauthier and Brian Sims and netminder John Dunford (ex-Blackpool Seagulls). Aces improved to their best Division 1 placing of fifth out of twelve after home and away victories against Premier League Cleveland in the NU Autumn Cup. Gauthier's speed was to the fore as he destroyed Champions-elect Solihull Barons with a string of converted breakaways in a 12-7 win in the last League match of the season. Finnish visitors Grankulla IFK won a post season friendly 19-5 against an Aces Select side (also Epps' last game for the Aces, defensive stalwart Horlock having retired earlier in the year). The team changed its name to Trafford Metros (reflecting support from Trafford Council) in December 1986 and had Steve Currie and then Jeff Bruinsma in the defensive role (along with Gauthier and Sims up front) but the release of Bruinsma for disciplinary reasons hit the team in the final weeks of the season and the result was seventh place (out of 16).

Division 1 split into North and South conferences for 1987-88 and the Northern group rapidly became a two horse race between the Metros and Cleveland. New faces were forwards Blair Hiddleston and Ken Robertson, defencemen Don Jamieson and (from Blackpool) George Powell as Roy Warren returned in a coaching/managerial role. Metros reached the Autumn Trophy final against Cardiff Devils but were unable to overturn a 7-5 first leg deficit when winning 5-4 in front of a capacity home crowd (including many from Cardiff). The League title rested on a home game against the Bombers and Metros were always second best losing 6-2.

1988-89 certainly boosted air travel. Jamieson returned for a second season and was joined by forwards Scott Dick and Brian Jokat and a young defenceman, Colin McHaffie from Ayr. Dick was soon replaced by Marc 'Moose' Damphousse and Jokat was then injured to be replaced by Michel Couvrette. The two French Canadians then went on a scoring spree for several glorious weeks before Couvrette was released due to attitude problems, Dick returning briefly before Jokat's injury healed. By now, Damphousse was suffering from a groin injury and after rescuing Metros from an embarrassing home defeat to Sunderland with eight goals and three assists, most coming in a memorable final period, Moose too was gone to be replaced by Darren Treloar. Soon after, there was an infamous home game with Telford Tigers. Metros had pulled themselves back into the match at 5-6 before Chuck Taylor started a fight after Jokat had gone in on goal. It seemed that Telford targeted our imports and after Jokat and Treloar as well as McHaffie and Tony Harcourt had departed along with Taylor and lesser Tigers, Telford finished the match (now 3 on 3 with all the penalties) still with three imports and ran out easy 10-6 winners.

Metros had been keen to retain Damphousse and he returned for 1989-90 alongside former Toronto Maple Leaf Fred Perlini and Mike Oliverio. Many say that Moose was never the same player after a fight with Ross Lambert in Humberside and he was released in December (joining Whitley in the Premier) to be replaced by freeskating American defenceman Greg Biskup with Oliverio moving up front. Metros' position didn't improve and they finished sixth out of nine with the season highlights probably the home defeats of arch rivals Telford.
Failure of sponsorship deals put the Metros' future at risk for the new season and Perlini had to be released from his contract. Biskup returned to be joined by fellow American Dan Richards and Finn Ari Pekka Mikkola. The side was greatly weakened by defections to the new local rivals, Blackburn Blackhawks. Metros finished eighth (of 11) falling away after a reasonable start. The most intense game of the year was a 'friendly' away 10-6 win against a Blackburn side including Perlini, Jamieson (guesting), Smith, Fleury, Winstanley, Powell and Dunford.

The 1990s
1991-92 got off to a bad start as the original imports didn't live up to their CVs so it was all change after a poor first weekend. High scoring import Rick Fera arrived but reasonable form in the Autumn Trophy disappeared as the team, still weakened by players having moved elsewhere, slumped to eighteen straight League defeats. With no-nonsense defenceman (and King of the Penalty Box) Ali Butorac on defence, the arrival of winger Sylvain Naud brought Metros' first League win, an 11-10 decision over a Blackburn team including Damphousse. Only two more victories were achieved though and the Metros ended up with only six points from 36 games despite heroics from ex-Whitley goalie Peter Graham. Metros won their three home games in the Relegation Playoffs comfortably but a controversial away defeat in Streatham left them needing something from the final away game in Medway. An 8-4 defeat meant that one of its founder members would no longer be in the British League set up.
Manager Roy Warren sprang a surprise for the new season in the English League as Ukrainian imports were introduced for the first time into British ice hockey. Sergei Gavrilenko and Igor Urchenko were Metros' pair and it would be fair to say they took time to get used to the general 'Canadian' style of play. Ari Mikkola returned up front for the League season before Warren signed a man who would be many people's nomination for the most skilful player to play for an Altrincham team, Oleg Sinkov, Gavrilenko having been released a few weeks earlier. Sinkov and former Fife Flyers netminder, Colin Downie, made their debuts as Sinkov announced himself with five goals against Blackburn and the Metros only lost two more League games in the season, clinching a playoff place with an 8-1 away victory in the last League game at Blackburn (Sinkov scoring six). The outcome of the promotion playoffs would always be down to the two games against Solihull and after a narrow 11-9 home victory, Metros were very much the underdogs for the away return against Chartrand, Chabot, Pound & Co. We then witnessed what was undoubtedly Metros' finest hour as they took the Barons apart winning 14-3 (Paul Broadhurst top scoring with four) to secure promotion in style.

The Metros' Lada sponsorship and a new arena being built in Manchester were symptomatic of a boom time in British ice hockey. Rick Fera returned although another big name signing, Dan Dorion, would only play one official match. Giant Ukrainian defenceman, Oleg Posmetiev, was brought in but then replaced by goal poacher, Claude Dumas. Metros were soon rattling in the goals and Fera, Sinkov and Dumas all scored over 100 in the season (all three were aiming for a League century in the final home game against Dumfries but Sinkov was agonisingly left on 99). The Metros for once missed out on the playoffs to Blackburn who were kept ahead mainly by the late addition of Mikkola to their ranks. In February, visitors Lada Togliatti, the Russian Champions, had defeated a Metros Select side 11-1.

1994-95 saw Sinkov and Urchenko joined by fellow Ukrainian international, Vladimir Kirik, as well as Canadians Frank Morris and Martin Smith. A dispute with Altrincham Ice Rink over the future of the team and its ownership led to the Metros being barred from the rink and having to decamp to Bradford. Smith left in mid season but the team's morale got a big boost from a return to Altrincham in the New Year. Import Troy Kennedy and Scotsmen, David Smith and Jim Pennycook joined up but the dash for the playoffs was dented by Kennedy's late injury and a crucial home decider against Swindon was lost 6-5.

1995-96 saw the arrival of arena hockey in Manchester although the Storm went for fresh management and only Nick Crawley and Alan Hough of the home-grown players stayed for any length of time. In Altrincham, the Aces took to the ice once more with Ari Mikkola, Lee Land (Canadian trained but living in Sale), Pete and Paul Broadhurst, Dave Shepherd, Pete Winstanley and Greg Allen as the mainstays of the team and Paul Bayliss coaching. Ged Smith also rejoined a couple of months into the season. The English League North quickly developed into a two horse race between the Aces and Humberside Jets and the decider in Hull was lost 8-7 after a disastrous first period. Revenge against Humberside came in the playoffs but with the National playoffs only starting in May, a side including only a few regulars was blown away by Wight Raiders in the semis.

1996-97 followed a similar course with the season decider a home game against the renamed Kingston Jets but that was lost 4-3 despite the return to the side of Paul Fleury and Nick Crawley halfway through the season. The conceding of last minute equalizers in away games at Billingham and Kingston also proved costly for the League title in hindsight. Kingston were again overcome in the playoffs but although a stronger side took on Wight, Aces were still well defeated home and away in the National semis.

The next year started off with a farcical 16-1 defeat as the importless Aces found themselves up against a Solihull team with five imports. Mikkola returned from injury halfway through the campaign to be joined by Mark Stokes but the Aces finished fourth as Kingston pipped us to the best of the rest title. One strange game had seen the Aces travel to Sunderland with just seven skaters but stun a reasonable home side 11-2. With a large disparity between the top two teams and the rest of the League, the Aces opted out of the playoffs and welcomed Czech visitors, HC Kladnokavanny who were 10-5 winners of a challenge match.
In 1998-99, Aces finished second in the League behind a stronger Billingham Eagles team although after two fairly heavy defeats by the Eagles, Aces were never close enough to challenge for the title. The team had been bolstered late on after Simon Mills and Tim Dempsey left Blackburn to return home. The season finished with a disappointing third place in the Northern playoff group after two early close defeats by Billingham. The season's last home game against Flintshire saw Ari Mikkola's retirement after struggling with a knee injury for a couple of years.

The 2000s and the Final Season
Dave Shepherd took over the coaching job from Ari for the new season. After a good start to the season Aces faded to a fourth-place finish suffering from rarely being able to put out a settled side. The playoffs were even more disappointing as two early home defeats finished our chances and Aces failed to qualify for the National playoffs from the Northern group.
Another change on the coaching side saw Paul Bayliss in charge for 2000-01. Aces finished third in the League behind Billingham and Whitley who both included a couple of imports. This was a year of progress for the Aces with young players such as Jason Hewitt establishing themselves in the squad. Whilst early defeats again meant the League playoffs were unsuccessful, Aces were also in a playoff group for the English Cup. A 6-5 home defeat to Whitley Warriors seemed to have ended our hopes but the Aces travelled to Whitley and silenced the large home crowd with a great 9-7 win that virtually assured us of the Cup. The Cup was duly clinched a few weeks later with a home victory over Birmingham and Altrincham Ice Rink was home to major trophy celebrations for the first time in many years.
2001-02 was a close fight between the Aces and Whitley for League honours with both sides a level above their League rivals. A tense 6-5 home victory with a late winner from Simon Mills put us in pole position for the League title but an away 10-3 loss to Kingston in debatable circumstances handed Whitley the title. The Cup title was relinquished by a poor home performance in the semis against Telford and the season ended in defeat by Basingstoke Buffalo in the National semis as frustration with one particular referee boiled over into a farce at the away game in Basingstoke. Bans resulting from that game would harm the Aces' start to the new season.

The next season, 2002–03, started with a depleted team losing its first two games but subsequent form would have seen the Aces being able to challenge the Sheffield Scimitars for League honours with fourteen straight wins to finish the League season. As with the previous season, the top two teams had been on a different level in the League. The scene for the season had been reinforced by the news in late 2002 that the ice rink was to be closed and redeveloped - this was to be one last year for long time friends to play together as a team. Greg Allen set new season scoring records for a home Altrincham player in finishing as top League scorer with acknowledged assistance from forward linemates Jason Hewitt and Billy Price (second and third in League scoring). A nailbiting 8-7 away win against Sheffield in the playoffs probably represented the Aces' most exciting win to date and Aces clinched a place in the National Playoff Finals with a 6-1 victory in a decider over Kingston in the last official match played at the Devonshire Road ice rink. Despite the lack of home ice and regular training, the Aces played Basingstoke Buffalo in the finals and won the first leg 5-4 at Blackburn Ice Arena. The return leg, the next day, left us with a case of 'what might have been' as a 5-4 loss in normal time led to sudden death overtime and the title being lost by the narrowest of margins as Buffalo got the vital goal. In some ways, a sad way to end but the Aces went out on a high of having competed to their best, one last time.

The next season, 2002–03, started with a depleted team losing its first two games but subsequent form would have seen the Aces being able to challenge the Sheffield Scimitars for League honours with fourteen straight wins to finish the League season. As with the previous season, the top two teams had been on a different level in the League. The scene for the season had been reinforced by the news in late 2002 that the ice rink was to be closed and redeveloped - this was to be one last year for long time friends to play together as a team. Greg Allen set new season scoring records for a home Altrincham player in finishing as top League scorer with acknowledged assistance from forward linemates Jason Hewitt and Billy Price (second and third in League scoring). A nailbiting 8-7 away win against Sheffield in the playoffs probably represented the Aces' most exciting win to date and Aces clinched a place in the National Playoff Finals with a 6-1 victory in a decider over Kingston in the last official match played at the Devonshire Road ice rink. Despite the lack of home ice and regular training, the Aces played Basingstoke Buffalo in the finals and won the first leg 5-4 at Blackburn Ice Arena. The return leg, the next day, left us with a case of 'what might have been' as a 5-4 loss in normal time led to sudden death overtime and the title being lost by the narrowest of margins as Buffalo got the vital goal. In some ways, a sad way to end but the Aces went out on a high of having competed to their best, one last time.

The Re-Birth
Following the demise of the Manchester Minotaurs the Aces entered the English National Ice Hockey League . with the team finishing a credible fifth in their first season.  The team, alongside Widnes Wild, are affiliated to the Manchester Storm (2015–).

The 2015-16 season started with mixed fortunes for the team who struggled with form and injuries to Thomas Revesz and then Chris Hutchinson broke his collar bone during the 8-5 victory against a resolute Hull side in October and he then struggled to return for the remainder of the season. Then The Gilbert brothers suffered injuries, first Tom and then Mikey, who played through the pain barrier to complete a match with a bruised tail bone and fractured hand. The Imports struggled to attend matches and training due to work commitments or playing for the Trafford Tornados, which left the team short benched but this helped the British players to bond and pull together as a team and by January they were a complete unit, lacking in numbers but playing together and showing pride and determination that had not been seen at the club for years.

In the run in towards to end of the season, the Aces could be proud of the performances they produced and the highlight had to be the Blackburn visit in February where both sides played with 100% effort and with Eagles winning 3-1, Aces stepped up a gear to win 9-5 and 5 different players scoring the goals to emphasize the team effort on the ice.

John Murray stepped up to guest for the Manchester Storm, whilst Jared Dickinson played regularly for both teams showing that the Aces has promise and will grow together and a bright future is in store for hockey in Manchester/ Altrincham.

The 2016-17 season started more relaxed to the previous one, where the introduction of the Manchester Storm made all decisions deferred and last minute. The structure was in place, both teams had their own routines at the rink and thought could be given to the structure of the Aces.

In came UK GB Women's Internationals Sarah Hutchinson from Bradford, CJ Ashton and Sam Bolwell from Kingston Diamonds whilst Mason Howard, the previous season's Player of the Year, led the way for the squad of 2015 to resign once more, although he lasted only a couple of matches before quitting due to commitments of setting up his own Personal training business. Former players Jake Nurse resigned and also in came Pawel Slowik from Blackburn although injury kept him out of the side for a long period.

The season was a competitive one with most sides able to beat each other so skill and tactics became the criteria for gaining an advantage over the opposition. Brilliant goals were scored throughout the year including a one handed effort from Jared Dickinson against Hull and individual efforts from Mikey Gilbert, Thomas Revesz; Pawel Slowik  and Jake Nurse excited the crowds at the Altrincham rink. Declan Ryan produced some stunning saves in the Aces net, but ably backed up by Jorge El Haage and Aran Fox the net was secure allowing for a more attach minded presence on the ice. The season was not about any individuals but a team effort as the guys bonded on and off the ice and they pulled together when it mattered and together they reached the playoffs.

So into the playoffs the Aces went and put up a spirited fight but lost 2-0 to the Widnes Wild who went on to win the playoffs. The season ended with the Aces heads held high as they earned the respect of the fans, their teammates and the opposition.

Notes

Sport in Trafford
Altrincham
Ice hockey teams in England
1961 establishments in England
Ice hockey clubs established in 1961

Altrincham Aces


Joanne Kate Swinson  (born 5 February 1980) is a British former  politician who was Leader of the Liberal Democrats from July to December 2019. She was the first woman and the youngest person to hold the position, as well as the shortest-serving holder of the post. Swinson was Member of Parliament (MP) for East Dunbartonshire from 2005 to 2015 and 2017 to 2019. In September 2020 Swinson became Director of Partners for a New Economy (P4NE).

Swinson studied at the London School of Economics, and briefly worked in public relations, before being elected to the House of Commons, becoming the youngest MP at the time. She was a Liberal Democrat Spokesperson covering various portfolios, including Scotland, Women and Equalities, Communities and Local Government, and Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

In 2010, after the Liberal Democrats entered into a coalition government with the Conservative Party, Swinson was a Parliamentary Private Secretary to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, and was later appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Employment Relations and Postal Affairs. She lost her seat in the 2015 election, but regained it in the snap election held two years later. Shortly after returning to Parliament, she was elected unopposed as Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats. In July 2019, following the retirement of Vince Cable, Swinson defeated Ed Davey in a leadership election to become Leader of the Liberal Democrats.

Swinson led her party through the 2019 general election shortly afterwards, suggesting she could lead a Liberal Democrat majority government which would revoke Article 50 and cancel Brexit. Instead, Swinson and the Liberal Democrats sustained a net loss in seats, including her own to the Scottish National Party and was disqualified from continuing as party leader. At less than five months, her tenure as leader was the shortest in the Liberal Democrats' history. She is also the only incumbent Liberal Democrat leader to have lost a Parliamentary seat.

Early life and education
Swinson was born in Glasgow on 5 February 1980, the daughter of Peter and Annette Swinson. She was educated at Douglas Academy, a mixed state school in the town of Milngavie in East Dunbartonshire in western Scotland, followed by the London School of Economics, where she studied Management, gaining a first-class Bachelor of Science degree in 2000. She signed up as an active member of the Liberal Democrats at the age of 17.

Early career
After graduating from the London School of Economics, Swinson moved to Yorkshire and worked for Ace Visual and Sound Systems in Thorne, before becoming a marketing and public relations manager for Hull-based commercial radio station Viking FM from December 2000, and media company Space and People.

At the age of 21, Swinson stood unsuccessfully in the Kingston upon Hull East constituency in the 2001 general election, but gained a 6% swing from John Prescott, then the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. In 2003, she unsuccessfully contested Strathkelvin and Bearsden seat in the Scottish Parliament election, finishing third with 14% of the vote.

Member of Parliament (2005–2015)
Swinson was elected to the House of Commons as the MP for East Dunbartonshire at the 2005 general election. She defeated John Lyons of Labour by 4,061 votes, and was the first ever Member of Parliament born in the 1980s. As the youngest MP she replaced fellow Lib Dem MP Sarah Teather as the "Baby of the House". This lasted until 2009, when Conservative MP Chloe Smith was elected at the Norwich North by-election.

Swinson was vocal in her opposition to the Iraq War and the Labour government's proposals for national identity cards. She has supported measures both by individuals and government to tackle climate change such as conserving energy in the home and the Liberal Democrat policy of introducing green taxes while reducing income tax to offset the burden. She supports reducing the voting age to 16 as one way of engaging young people in politics. She believes more women should be involved in politics but that encouragement is better than affirmative action in achieving this. She opposes positive discrimination to address gender imbalance, and led the argument against positive discrimination to select her party's candidates at their national party conference in 2002, wearing a pink T-shirt inscribed with the slogan, "I am not a token woman".

Swinson has also called for a "wellbeing index" to be introduced, to be compared against GDP, and tabled an early day motion on the issue in 2008, gaining 50 signatures. She found support from MPs such as Vince Cable and Angela Eagle. Swinson cited the fact that although standard of living had increased, people's level of wellbeing had been virtually static for some time, according to polls.

Swinson believed that new prisons ought not to be built and had campaigned vocally, but without success, against the rebuilding of a prison at Bishopbriggs within the constituency. She had said that if a prison was built it must not be built cheaply, and that it must not be named after the town in which is to be sited. The campaign to give the prison its original name was ultimately successful, as the replacement prison will retain its original name, Lowmoss Prison.

She is an active campaigner against excessive packaging of chocolate Easter eggs. Each year from 2007 saw Swinson attack confectionery manufacturers for wasteful use of non-recyclable materials in packaging of the seasonal goods. She has named Guylian as the worst offender, followed by Lindt, Baileys and Cadbury.

Swinson successfully held her seat of East Dunbartonshire in the 2010 general election, although with a slightly decreased majority. Her party, the Liberal Democrats, subsequently entered into a coalition with the Conservative Party.

Parliamentary Private Secretary
In November 2010, Swinson was made Parliamentary Private Secretary to then Business Secretary Vince Cable.

In December 2010, she was one of 27 Liberal Democrat MPs who voted in favour of allowing universities to raise tuition fees up to £9,000 per year.

In February 2012, Swinson replaced Norman Lamb as Parliamentary Private Secretary to then Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, holding this position until her promotion to government minister later that year.

Business Minister (2012–2015)

In September 2012, Swinson was appointed Under Secretary of State for Employment Relations and Consumer Affairs in a reshuffle by then Prime Minister David Cameron. She maintained this role for the remainder of the Cameron-Clegg coalition, except for several months of maternity leave between 2013 and 2014.

Swinson initially focused efforts on scrapping the 1871 Pedlars Act, which prevents pedlars (travelling salesmen) and street traders from trading without first acquiring a certificate from the police. In November 2012, Swinson said that the proposed deregulation would help "eliminate barriers to street traders and pedlars by making it easier to trade, boosting retail and helping small traders – including many young entrepreneurs – to expand and grow". The proposal was criticised by the Local Government Association, which claimed that it would lead to a 'free for all' of pedlars targeting vulnerable people. By 2014, however, Swinson announced she would seek to amend rather than repeal the laws.

Swinson opposed forcing companies to adopt gender quotas, stating that such a move would "negatively affect" the performance of businesses. She instead promoted voluntary solutions, telling an event organised by the British Chambers of Commerce, "What women need is confidence, not quotas. So rather than telling companies what to do, we're encouraging them to see the real business benefits of taking voluntary action."

From 2013, Swinson sought to promote fathers' rights in regard to parental leave, bringing forth new legislation which allowed parents to divide parental leave between themselves with an aim to encourage fathers to spend more time with their newborn infants.

In October 2013, controversy emerged after MPs in the House of Commons allowed Swinson, then pregnant, to stand for 20 minutes without offering her a seat. This led to political debate and comment about whether or not it was sexist to give up a seat for a pregnant woman, with Prime Minister David Cameron wading into the row to say that offering pregnant women seats was the right thing to do. Swinson herself later commented that it was not sexist to offer a pregnant woman a seat, and that it was "great for people to offer, and part of life's little courtesies."

In the area of employment, she was supportive of both zero hours contracts and flexible working, seeking to promote the latter especially. On minimum wage, in February 2013 Swinson joined calls by other ministers to warn that "caution" was required when increasing it any further amid claims that minimum wage could be cut or frozen if it began costing jobs. Swinson pledged £80,000 of government financial support for the Corporate Human Rights Benchmark, an initiative led by corporations including Aviva Investors and Calvert which measures and ranks performance of global companies in regard to human rights.

Swinson was keen to promote employee ownership, such as employee ownership of shares, through the establishment of a FTSE-compliant UK Employee Ownership Index, supporting measures to reduce regulations for companies choosing to adopt employee ownership practices, and a scheme allowing companies to contractually offer employees £2,000 to £50,000 worth of shares (which would be exempted from capital gains tax) in exchange for waiving certain employee rights. Swinson traced employee ownership back to the philosophy of Jeremy Bentham, and claimed such ownership models improve productivity and lower absenteeism in staff.

By 2014, it was being reported that Swinson was tipped to replace Alistair Carmichael as Scottish Secretary and enter the Cabinet in a potential reshuffle, which at the time would have made her the youngest female Cabinet member ever and the first Cabinet member to be born in the 1980s. At the same time, however, electoral projections for the 2015 general election showed Swinson was under serious risk of losing her East Dunbartonshire seat to a surge of Scottish National Party support.

Shortly before the 2015 general election, The Times and the Financial Times reported that Swinson was one of a number of prominent 'right-leaning' Liberal Democrat MPs, aligned to then Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, deliberately excluded from campaign funding by former leading Liberal Democrat peer and donor Matthew Oakeshott even though their seats, including Swinson's, were vulnerable marginals.

Swinson was featured in the 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 editions of the 'London's 1000 most influential people' list by the Evening Standard.

2015 and 2017 general elections
Swinson lost her parliamentary seat in the 2015 general election to Scottish National Party candidate John Nicolson by 2,167 votes (4.0%). She stood again for her former seat during the 2017 general election and won with a lead of 5,339 votes (10.3%) over Nicolson. During this time, she wrote her book Equal Power: And How You Can Make It Happen.

Between 2017 and 2018, Swinson received political funding from Mark Petterson, the director of Warwick Energy Ltd, which has fracking licences across England. She also voted against plans to ban fracking in the UK.

Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats (2017–2019)
Following the resignation of Tim Farron as Liberal Democrat leader on 14 June 2017, Swinson was named by the BBC as one of the possible contenders for the leadership along with Norman Lamb and Vince Cable. She later announced that she would not seek the leadership; instead, she became Deputy Leader after being the only candidate at the close of nominations.

As of October 2017, she was her party's Spokesperson for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

At the Liberal Democrat autumn conference of 2017, Swinson drew media attention for using the phrase "Faragey, Trumpy, angry, arsey, shouty slogans" in criticising populism. In the same speech she called for the state visit of U.S. President Donald Trump to be cancelled and warned about Brexit.

In February 2018, Swinson's first book Equal Power: And How You Can Make It Happen was published by Atlantic Books. Discussing her book, Swinson explained that government has "limitations" when addressing gender inequality, so her book instead mainly suggests ideas for people to make changes in their own homes and workplaces. The Irish Times likened Equal Power to the "corporate feminism" of Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In, while The Herald also noted "A read of Equal Power makes it apparent that Swinson is a fan of Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In." Swinson's book was featured at the Aye Write! literary festival in Glasgow.

In a March 2018 article for The Mail on Sunday, Swinson came out in favour of erecting a statue of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in Parliament Square. She justified her position on feminist grounds and claimed that Thatcher was able to "single-handedly transform the fortunes of women", accusing opponents of the Thatcher statue as being "pretty sexist". Swinson praised Thatcher for her skills in negotiating the UK rebate and for taking the UK into the single market, but was also critical of Thatcher for the poll tax and stressed she did not consider herself a Thatcherite. In addition, she wrote that there should be a statue of the first female First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon in time, though she disagrees with Scottish independence.

In July 2018, Swinson was absent for key votes on the Brexit negotiations, having been on maternity leave following the birth of her second son. During this period, she attended an anti-Trump protest, drawing criticism from Labour MP Kate Hoey on The Spectators podcast. Conservative Party Chairman Brandon Lewis had formally agreed not to vote, so that Swinson's absence would not affect the result. Lewis voted with the government nonetheless, leading Swinson to accuse the government of resorting to "desperate stuff" and a "calculated, deliberate breaking of trust". Lewis apologised, alongside Cabinet Office minister David Lidington and government chief whip Julian Smith. Apologising on Twitter, Lewis said that it was an "honest mistake made by the whips in fast-moving circumstances."

Leader of the Liberal Democrats (2019)
In May 2019, Vince Cable announced he would relinquish his role as leader of the Liberal Democrats in July, triggering a leadership election. Subsequently, while appearing on the 30 May edition of the BBC political discussion programme Question Time, Swinson confirmed that she would put her name forward in the forthcoming contest.

On 22 July 2019, Swinson was elected the first-ever female leader of the Liberal Democrats, with 47,997 (62.8%) votes, gaining a clear victory over Sir Ed Davey, with 28,021 votes. She was the first leader of a major British political party who was born in the 1980s. Under her leadership, the party's candidate and Welsh Liberal Democrats leader Jane Dodds won the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election, following a "remain alliance" in which Change UK, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party agreed not to stand candidates. The party's membership also rose to a record 115,000+ members, with many party supporters attributing this rise to what they called "the Swinson surge".

In her first Leader's Speech to the Liberal Democrat Federal Conference, on 17 September 2019, Swinson said that Boris Johnson "claims he can negotiate a Brexit deal in a month. I wouldn't hold out much hope: yesterday he couldn't negotiate where to have a press conference".

2019 election campaign
Swinson campaigned on a platform of revoking Article 50 if the Liberal Democrats formed the government. The policy proved to be controversial with both Remain and Leave voters, who criticised it as undemocratic. Swinson launched her campaign by declaring that she was "a candidate to be prime minister", and suggesting her party could win a majority. However, poll ratings for the party were poor and Swinson's personal ratings declined throughout the campaign.

During the campaign, Swinson clashed with Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland on the subject of nuclear weapons. Asked if she would be prepared to use nuclear weapons, Swinson replied simply "yes". Sturgeon commented that "It's sickening to hear this question asked and answered as if it's some kind of virility test and without any context... Using nuclear weapons would mean killing millions of people." Swinson was subject to a fake news story in which she was accused of 'hunting squirrels'. First Draft News, an organisation that seeks to identify online misinformation, found that the claim originated from a doctored video clip, with a spokesperson for the organisation warning that the propagation of false stories such as this were leading to the "gentle erosion of trust".

Swinson's campaign was reported to be funded by companies selling puberty blockers, a medication that some social conservatives and anti-trans feminists have criticised. In December 2019, it was reported that a pharmaceutical firm marketing drugs to delay puberty had donated £100,000 to the Liberal Democrats. When questioned about her beliefs on sex and gender, Swinson replied that she didn't "think things are as binary as they are often presented".

Swinson ceased to be leader on 13 December 2019, when in the general election she lost her own seat in parliament to the SNP's Amy Callaghan. The party's rules disqualified her from continuing as its leader. She had led the party for 144 days. As well as losing seats, the Liberal Democrats failed to make predicted gains. An internal party review said that their election campaign was worsened by "an inexperienced inner circle" around Swinson. It said that voters who were neither fervently leave nor remain were "effectively ignored" by her promise to revoke Article 50. On 27 August 2020, Sir Ed Davey won the leadership election to succeed her.

Recent work
In July 2020, Swinson accepted a position as Visiting Professor at Cranfield School of Management in Bedfordshire. In September 2020, she became Director of Partners for a New Economy (P4NE).

Personal life
On 13 May 2011, Swinson married then fellow Liberal Democrat MP Duncan Hames. The couple's first child was born in December 2013. A second son was born in June 2018. Swinson gave birth to the couple's third son, Robin, on 28 July 2023.

Swinson completed the Loch Ness Marathon in 2007, the 2011 London Marathon and the inaugural Stirling Scottish Marathon in 2017. Through this, she has raised money for the Anaphylaxis Campaign and Bloodwise. She ran the London Landmarks Half Marathon in March 2019 in memory of her father, who had died of blood cancer the previous year.

Having a peanut allergy, Swinson sustained anaphylactic shock in May 2013 after eating a biscuit containing nuts in Glasgow. She collapsed with breathing difficulty, recovering on administration of adrenaline, and an overnight stay in hospital.

Swinson was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2018 New Year Honours for political and public service. On receiving the honour, Swinson said she was privileged "to be listed among so many remarkable people from all walks of life, making amazing contributions right across our country".

Swinson is a humanist and is a member of the humanist charity Humanists UK.

References

External links

 Jo Swinson at the Liberal Democrats
 Profile at the Scottish Liberal Democrats

 Politics on Demand – includes regular podcasts by Jo Swinson
 Jo Swinson on Women's Parliamentary Radio
 Video: People and Parliament – Jo Swinson MP's response, hosted by YouTube on the Liberal Democrats official channel
 Contributor page at The Guardian

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1980 births
21st-century Scottish women politicians
21st-century Scottish politicians
Alumni of the London School of Economics
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
Female members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Scottish constituencies
Leaders of the Liberal Democrats (UK)
Living people
People from Milngavie
Place of birth missing (living people)
Politicians from East Dunbartonshire
Scottish humanists
Scottish Liberal Democrat MPs
UK MPs 2005–2010
UK MPs 2010–2015
UK MPs 2017–2019
Women opposition leaders
Spouses of British politicians

Jo Swinson


Mischa Anne Marsden Barton (born 24 January 1986) is a British-American film, television, and stage actress. She began her career on the stage, appearing in Tony Kushner's Slavs! and took the lead in James Lapine's Twelve Dreams at New York City's Lincoln Center. She made her screen debut with a guest appearance on the American soap opera All My Children (1995), and voicing a character on the Nickelodeon cartoon series KaBlam! (1996–97). Her first major film role was as the protagonist of Lawn Dogs (1997), a drama co-starring Sam Rockwell. She appeared in major pictures such as the romantic comedy Notting Hill (1999) and M. Night Shyamalan's psychological thriller The Sixth Sense (1999). She also starred in the indie crime drama Pups (1999).

Barton later appeared in the independent drama Lost and Delirious (2001) and guest-starred as Evan Rachel Wood's girlfriend on ABC's Once and Again (2001–02). She played Marissa Cooper in the Fox television series The O.C. (2003–2006), for which she received two Teen Choice Awards. The role brought Barton into mainstream fame, and Entertainment Weekly named her the "It Girl" of 2003.

Barton has since appeared in the comedy remake St Trinian's (2007), the Richard Attenborough–directed drama Closing the Ring (2007) and Assassination of a High School President (2008). She returned to television, starring in the short-lived Ashton Kutcher-produced CW series The Beautiful Life (2009).

In 2012, she returned to the stage, performing in the Irish production of Steel Magnolias. She also appeared alongside Martin Sheen in Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain (2014). She has garnered critical praise for her roles in independent films, with the Los Angeles Times praising her "standout" performance in Starcrossed (2014). Barton was cast in the first season of the MTV series The Hills: New Beginnings (2019–2021), a reboot of The Hills. In 2023, she was cast in an extended guest role for the rebooted Australian soap opera, Neighbours on Amazon Freevee and Network 10.

Early life
Barton was born at Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital in Hammersmith, London, to an Irish mother, Nuala Quinn-Barton, a producer, and an English father, Paul Marsden Barton, a foreign exchange broker from Manchester.

Her maternal grandfather was an Irish language professor at Queen's University Belfast. She has two sisters, Hania (younger) and Zoe (older), the latter a barrister in London. Barton has stated that she briefly attended St. Paul's Girls' School in Hammersmith, but her father's work took the family to New York City when Barton was five years old. In 2006, she became a naturalised citizen of the United States, but retained her British citizenship. She is also eligible for Irish citizenship through her mother.

Barton graduated from the Professional Children's School in Manhattan in 2004, and took a summer short course called Acting Shakespeare at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, in June and July 2006, at Sir Richard Attenborough's urging, after he directed her in Closing the Ring.

Career

1994–1997: Stage roles
Barton began acting at the age of eight, co-starring in the Off-Broadway premiere of the 1994 play, Slavs!, written by Tony Kushner. Vincent Canby of The New York Times praised Barton's "so fine" and "chillingly authoritative" performance. New York magazine also praised her as "a darling little girl, [that] exhibits consummate charm". She appeared in several other Off-Broadway productions, taking a lead role in James Lapine's Twelve Dreams alongside Marisa Tomei at Lincoln Center. Canby again praised Barton, noting that she "has a sweet gravity as the doomed Emma". In 1996 Barton had a supporting role in Catherine Butterfield's Where the Truth Lies which opened at New York's Irish Repertory Theatre. The New York Times also remarked that "the winning child actresses Brittany Boyd and Mischa Barton are already smart enough not to overplay the naivete and precocity of their respective characters." In 1997, she appeared alongside Dianne Wiest at The Public Theater in Naomi Wallace's One Flea Spare. The New York production went on to win the Obie Award for Best Play.

1997–2003: Feature films and television
She made her film debut in Lawn Dogs, which won awards at film festivals around the world. Barton won critical favour for her role, with Janet Maslin of The New York Times praising her "poised" performance and Empire celebrating her "hypnotic central performance". Barton then appeared in Notting Hill (1999) and The Sixth Sense (1999). Both films were critically and commercially successful, respectively earning $363,889,700 and $672,806,292. She also starred in Pups, a "Dog Day Afternoon for the MTV generation", alongside Burt Reynolds; along with her co-star Cameron Van Hoy, film critic Roger Ebert called their work in the film "two of the most natural and freed performances I have seen by actors of any age."

Barton first appeared on television in 1994, playing a young Corvina Lang in flashbacks in the soap opera All My Children. In 1996, she returned to the show, replacing Michelle Trachtenberg in the role of Lily Benton Montgomery. She guest-starred in eight episodes of the television series Once and Again as Jessie Sammler's (Evan Rachel Wood) girlfriend, Katie Singer. In 2001, she returned to film and starred in the independent Canadian drama, Lost and Delirious, based on the novel The Wives of Bath by Susan Swan. The film was met with mixed reviews, but the performances of Barton and her co-stars Piper Perabo and Jessica Paré were widely praised. She also starred in Julie Johnson (2001) alongside Lili Taylor and Courtney Love, playing the daughter of a woman in a lesbian relationship. Barton also had a supporting role in the independent teen drama Tart (2001) with Brad Renfro and Dominique Swain.

Other television appearances include an episode of the Fox series Fastlane (2003). She also appears as the love interest in James Blunt's music video "Goodbye My Lover" (2005) and in Enrique Iglesias' music video "Addicted" (2003).

2003–2007: The O.C.
In August 2003, Fox premiered the television series The O.C., about affluent teenagers with stormy personal lives who reside in scenic Orange County, California. The show became an overnight success due to its large fanbase, and resulted in Barton's fame being increased through her role as Marissa Cooper. Barton departed from the show in the third-season finale in May 2006. During her time on the show, Barton garnered several Teen Choice Awards. She was also celebrated by Glamour as the "Next Big Thing". The O.C. dropped in ratings dramatically during its third and fourth seasons, and ended in early 2007.

In July 2006, Barton appeared on the British comedy variety show The Friday Night Project as a guest host. In 2007, Barton appeared in the films The Oh in Ohio and the comedy film Virgin Territory with Hayden Christensen. She also joined Shirley MacLaine and Christopher Plummer in Richard Attenborough's war drama Closing the Ring. Attenborough praised her, saying "her ability to convey pain and sadness, hopefulness and fear, is riveting". The Independent also noted that "she lends her character a beguiling vulnerability." She also appeared in the British comedy St Trinians (2007), appearing as a former head girl of that school advising current senior pupils on fashion and style. Later in 2007, Barton was cast in the international film produced by the Russian band t.A.T.u., called You and I. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2008 and was released theatrically in Russia in 2011.

2008–2018: Independent films
She appeared in Assassination of a High School President (2008), co-starring Bruce Willis, which premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. The Hollywood Reporter praised Barton's "captivating" performance. She also starred in the horror film Walled In, which was released straight-to-DVD in March 2009. It received mixed reviews, but her performance was praised, with IGN calling her performance "terrific". Her next horror project, Homecoming, received a limited release in July 2009. Barton did not attend the premiere of the psychological thriller due to a medical issue. She also starred in the 2009 film Don't Fade Away. In early 2009 she began filming alongside Martin Sheen in Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain a biopic of the Bhopal gas tragedy.

In a December 2007 interview, she indicated she would return to television for the right project; "It's not that I dislike doing television at all. It would be interesting having more creative control over where the storylines go or the characters. But for the right thing, of course." In 2009 she starred as one of the main characters on The Beautiful Life a new series on The CW. The series was subsequently cancelled on 25 September 2009 after broadcasting two episodes. In December 2009, the technology company HP became the show's sponsor, airing the show's five episodes on YouTube. She guest starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, played an endangered prostitute in an episode that aired on 3 March 2010. She has since mainly filmed horror and thriller projects, taking roles in The Sibling, Cyberstalker, a Lifetime television film and Apartment 1303 3D, the English-language remake of the Japanese horror film, Apartment 1303. Barton also appeared alongside Ryan Eggold in Mark Edwin Robinson's supernatural romance thriller, Into the Dark.

In May 2012, Barton discussed her recent preference for the horror genre, following roles in Homecoming, Apartment 1303 and Sibling "I literally became obsessed with that genre. I can't tell you. Because I never watched it when I was younger; it used to be way too terrifying for me." However Barton added that, "I think I've gone through my little phase, for the moment." In June, Barton appeared in Noel Gallagher's music video for Everybody's on the Run. In July 2012, Barton made her stage return in an Irish production of Steel Magnolias, playing Shelby. It premiered at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin on 12 September, and a nationwide tour followed thereafter. After the premiere, Barton received praise for her performance. The Evening Herald wrote "Barton sparkles from the moment she steps on stage...Barton's Shelby is instantly magnetic".

On 8 March 2016, Barton competed on the 22nd season of Dancing with the Stars. She paired with professional dancer Artem Chigvintsev. On 4 April 2016, Barton and Chigvintsev were eliminated from the competition and finished in eleventh place. Later in 2016 Barton received praise for her role in the independent drama Starcrossed. Writing in the Los Angeles Times, Katie Walsh described how "Barton is a standout as the alluring, broken young woman who hides as much as she reveals." Barton was later critically recognized for her performance in Deserted, a psychological survival story written and directed by Ashley Avis. Barton plays Jae, a young woman recently released from prison who goes on a soul-searching journey into the desert with her brother Robin, played by Jackson Davis. "Barton is well-cast, grounded and burdened," and "...delivers one of her best performances in years." In 2018, Barton was cast in The Cat and the Moon, the directorial debut of Alex Wolff.

2019–present: The Hills reboot, Neighbours and film roles
At the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards, MTV announced a reboot of The Hills titled The Hills: New Beginnings, slated to premiere in 2019. Barton was announced as part of the cast of the new series. She did not return for the second season. Barton had a cameo appearance in Spree, which starred Joe Keery of Stranger Things and premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. In October 2021, Barton was tapped to play an aspiring detective Miranda Green in the crime thriller film Invitation To A Murder, directed by Stephen Shimek.

In April 2023 it was announced that Barton will be a guest star in the rebooted Australian soap opera, Neighbours on Amazon Freevee and Australia's Network 10. Barton will play Reece Sinclair, an American new to Erinsborough who's not quite who she appears to be.

Modelling, fashion design, and endorsements
Barton has been in many television commercials and print advertising campaigns. Barton has modeled for companies Calvin Klein, bebe stores, Aéropostale, Monsoon Accessorize, Dooney & Bourke, JC (Jeans and Clothes), European clothing line Morgan de Toi, Jaspal, and Neutrogena skincare products. She became the spokesperson for Keds Sneakers, substantially increasing their sales. In Australia, she appears in commercials for teen magazine Famous and was the guest of honour at retail giant David Jones Tahitian Summer Collection launch. She has also endorsed Chanel jewelry, appearing at events for the brand. In a 2005 interview, she stated that she liked the Chanel brand because they produced a large number of clip-on earrings suitable for women who did not have pierced ears, as she did not at the time. In 2009, having had her ears pierced for her role in The Beautiful Life, she modeled jewelry for the company Inspired Creations, including pierced earrings and their Waxing Poetic range of charms.

Barton is a self-admitted fan of magic. In addition to being a guest member of the Magic Castle, she is also friends with a number of magicians and has often acted as a guest assistant to some of them, participating in illusions including being guillotined and sawed in half.

In 2008, she won the InStyle "icon of the year" award from Karl Lagerfeld at the Viper awards in Berlin.

Barton also became a spokesperson for the SAFE (Skin Awareness for Everyone) campaign in 2007. In addition, she lent her name to the TRAID campaign (Textile Recycling for Aid and International Development) in association with Visa Swap. Barton was photographed in April 2007 for the Fall 2007/2008 advertising campaign for Italian clothing brand Iceberg, modelling with Nicolas Bemberg.

In July 2008, she created a 14-piece handbag collection for online retailer ASOS.com. Barton was reportedly very involved in the line which retails from £20 to £145. She told ASOS magazine that she first discovered the website through her sister.

In December 2008, Barton premiered her line of headbands released on the Stacy Lapidus line. The headbands cost from $90 to $200. She also has a handbag line for London-based Ri2k, which is sold in the United Kingdom and Australia only. In early 2009, she became the "new face" of Herbal Essences.

In June 2010 she was announced as the face of Philipp Plein couture. Plein said, "Being in the limelight for a young and beautiful girl, the looks of course always get a lot of attention, Mischa Barton got a lot and learned to live with her fame. For me it was the big challenge to again show her as a Diva, a Rock 'n' Roll Goddess". The campaign will be circulated in international editions of leading fashion magazines.

In May 2011, Barton became the "exceptional godmother" of the Catalan designer Rosa Clará for her 2011 collection at Barcelona Bridal Week. Along with the Mexican singer Paulina Rubio, they became the stars of the show to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the signature of wedding dresses from Barcelona.

In October 2011, Barton appeared in a meat-themed photoshoot for Tyler Shields that was showcased at the Imitate Modern Gallery in London.

In 2012 Barton opened a short-lived clothes boutique in Spitafields, London,  later revealing "Retail is not exactly a cakewalk, so just taking care of the store and dealing with production, quality and employees. Just the whole thing became overwhelming and beyond expensive."

Personal life
Barton purchased a home in Beverly Hills at age nineteen, and subsequently sold the home in 2016. She was previously in long-term relationships with the oil heir Brandon Davis, musician Cisco Adler, and  the Australian model, James Abercrombie. In 2017, Barton won a revenge porn lawsuit against her former boyfriend, Jon Zacharias, stopping him from selling a sex tape of her.

In a guest essay published in 2021 by Harper's Bazaar, Barton revealed that she felt that she had been "sexualised" in her earlier film roles, even becoming a "strange sex symbol" at 13 in Asia where her movie Pups garnered significant attention. She also revealed that she felt pressure to lose her virginity at age 18 when she joined the cast of The OC as her character was sexually active. Barton also revealed that persistent press attention and paparazzi intrusion led to her having PTSD. In 2023, an article from 2005 circulated in which Barton stated a Hollywood publicist told her to sleep with Leonardo DiCaprio when she was just 18 years old in order to benefit her career.

Charitable affiliations
In 2009, Barton served as the spokesperson for Climate Star, an organization that fights global warming through social and legislative activism. In 2007 she worked with the home shopping company QVC to raise funds for women's cancer research.

In 2006, Barton served as a spokesperson for the SAFE (Skin Awareness for Everyone) campaign and also lent her name to the TRAID campaign (Textile Recycling for Aid and International Development) in 2007, in association with Visa Swap. In 2007, Barton also served as an ambassador for Save the Children and the "One Water" campaign which brings water to remote locations in Africa, and was on the board of the Lupus Research Committee in Los Angeles.

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

Theatre

Awards and nominations

References

External links

1986 births
20th-century American actresses
20th-century English actresses
21st-century American actresses
21st-century English actresses
Actresses from Los Angeles
Actresses from New York City
English child actresses
English female models
English film actresses
British emigrants to the United States
English people of Irish descent
English soap opera actresses
English stage actresses
English television actresses
American child actresses
American female models
American film actresses
American soap opera actresses
American stage actresses
American television actresses
Living people
Female models from Los Angeles
Models from London
Models from New York City
Actresses from Hammersmith
People from Tribeca
Naturalized citizens of the United States
Alumni of RADA

Mischa Barton


Isabella Acres (born February 21, 2001) is an American actress who played Rose on Better Off Ted.

Acres was born in Atlanta, where she discovered her love for acting in children's theater. She then relocated to Los Angeles. Acres' little sister, Ava, is also an actress.

Acres is best known for her series regular role as Rose Crisp on Better Off Ted, the seven-year-old daughter of Ted (Jay Harrington) who is often the most mature person at his home and workplace. The show's first season finished in August 2009, with a second picked up for January 2010.

Acres also appeared on an episode of Monk in 2007, and single episodes of The Mentalist where she plays Patrick Jane's (Simon Baker) daughter and on the hit television show Hannah Montana. Acres was nominated for Best Performance in a TV Series, Guest Starring Young Actress at the Young Artist Awards 2009 for her performance in The Mentalist.

She currently can be seen in the recurring role of Soleil Friedman in the second season of the Fox television series Touch.

Filmography

Television

Film

References

Other websites

2001 births
Actors from Atlanta
American child actors
American television actors
Living people
American movie actors

Isabella Acres


System Simulation (SSL) is a software engineering company now specialising in text and multimedia information systems, based in Covent Garden, central London, England, and founded in 1970.

Under the chairmanship of John Lansdown, following collaborative research work at the Royal College of Art, System Simulation carried out pioneering computer animation work, applying computer graphics techniques in TV and film creating many advertising sequences, the flight deck instrumentation readouts on the Nostromo spaceship for Ridley Scott's Alien, and the animation of Martin Lambie-Nairn's original Channel 4 logo.

More recently System Simulation has specialised in museum information systems, commercial and archival image library systems, information management and delivery for publishers, news services and professional and commercial organisations. MuseumIndex+, the museum information management system, supports collections management, digital archives and interactive public access. Clients include the British Museum, London Transport Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, Getty Images, SCRAN (Scottish Cultural Resources Access Network) and Culture24. They develop content management systems, and CD-ROM/Web products and services for the publishing sector and for information service providers.
The company provides technical support for the online services of Culture24, the UK's leading virtual museum resource.

The company has often hosted meetings of the Computer Arts Society.

Awards won by company and their clients

 British Computer Society IT Award Winner 1994: PLATO-UK with Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital Trust and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
 British Computer Society IT Award Medallist 1995: ROCKnROM with Michael Wadleigh and Penguin Books
 British Computer Society IT Award Medallist 1996: Index+ software system.
 BT/New Statesman - Best education website 2001: The 24 Hour Museum http://www.culture24.org.uk/
 American Association of Museums Silver Muse Award 2001 - Excellence in the use of media and technology for collections database and research resource: SCRAN http://www.scran.ac.uk
 Institute of Information Scientists Jason Farradine Award 2001 - an outstanding piece of work in the information field: SCRAN http://www.scran.ac.uk
 National Library for the Blind Visionary Design Award 2002: The British Museum COMPASS website for accessibility to the visually impaired. www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/compass
 IVCA Biz Net Award Winner - Best public information website 2002: The 24 Hour Museum (since rebranded as "Culture24") http://www.culture24.org.uk/home
 BECTA/The Guardian UK Education Website Awards 2002 - shortlisted :SCRAN http://www.scran.ac.uk
 Museums and the Web, Culture 24 Best of the Web Winner in the category "long-lived" April 2010
 Europeana Foundation, Hack4Europe, Casual Curator winner in the category "Social Inclusion" June 2011

References

External links

British animation studios
Companies based in the London Borough of Islington
Computer animation
Museum companies
Museum informatics
Software companies of the United Kingdom
Software companies established in 1970
Visual effects companies

System Simulation


René Edmond Malaise (29 September 1892 – 1 July 1978) was a Swedish entomologist, explorer, art collector and inventor who is mostly known for his invention of the Malaise trap and his systematic collection of thousands of insects.

Early career
As an explorer he took part in an expedition to Kamchatka between 1920 and 1922 along with Sten Bergman and Eric Hultén. Malaise eventually left the others and arrived in Kamakura, Japan in August 1923, just days before the great earthquake on 31 August 1923 which he witnessed from a short distance before his return to Stockholm. He then traveled back to Kamchatka in 1924 along with his fiancée, the journalist, writer and explorer Ester Blenda Nordström and did not return from the Soviet Union until 1930. On 31 August 1925 Ester Blenda married him on Kamchatka. They would divorce in 1929.

Later life
In 1933 he married Ebba Söderhell, a teacher of biology and religion from Stockholm.

Malaise then set out on another expedition of his own to northern Burma between 1933 and 1935, with Ebba accompanying him on the trip. It was here, in Yangon (Rangoon) in 1934, that he had five insect traps of his own construction manufactured, effectively inventing the "Malaise trap". During this trip he collected some 100,000 insects, many of these totally unknown to entomology before Malaise's endeavor. Between 1953 and 1958 he supervised the entomological department of the Swedish Museum of Natural History.

His only endeavor into geology, was his book Atlantis, en geologisk verklighet ("Atlantis, a geological reality"), in which he claimed that  Alfred Wegeners theory of plate tectonics was incorrect, that the migration of species has been helped by a sunken continent of Atlantis, and he defended the "constriction theory" of paleozoologist Nils Odhner.  It was widely ridiculed by the scientific community.

In his later years he spent most of his time building up a large art collection, including works of Rembrandt.

Sources

There is no written biography on Malaise, but Fredrik Sjöberg's essay Flugfällan contains several chapters with tidbits from the life of Malaise that he has found in different places.

References

External links
 Vårdal, Hege – Taeger, Andreas: The life of René Malaise: From the wild east to a sunken island. Zootaxa 2011.

Swedish entomologists
20th-century Swedish zoologists
Swedish art collectors
Hymenopterists
Swedish explorers
Explorers of Asia
20th-century Swedish inventors
1892 births
1978 deaths

René Malaise


The most important places in Buddhism are located in the Indo-Gangetic Plain of southern Nepal and northern India. This is the area where Gautama Buddha born ,lived and taught, and the main sites connected to his life are now important places of pilgrimage for both Buddhists and Hindus. Many countries that are or were predominantly Buddhist have shrines and places which can be visited as a pilgrimage.

Sites associated with Buddha's life

Four main pilgrimage sites listed by Buddha himself

Gautama Buddha himself had identified the following four sites most worthy of pilgrimage for his followers, observing that these would produce a feeling of spiritual urgency:

 Lumbini: birthplace of The Buddha as Prince Siddhartha Gautam (in Taulihawa, Lumbini, Nepal) is the most important religious site and place of pilgrimages for Buddhism. It is also approved by UNESCO for World Heritage sites as most holy place for Buddhism and world religions.
 Bodh Gaya: (in the current Mahabodhi Temple, Bihar, India), is the religious site and place of pilgrimage, the Mahabodhi Temple houses what is believed to be the Bodhi Tree where Prince Siddhārtha attained enlightenment (Nibbana) and became known as Gautama Buddha.
 Sarnath: (formally Isipathana, Uttar Pradesh, India) where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon (Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta), and He taught about the Middle Way, the Four Noble Truths and Noble Eightfold Path.
 Kuśinagara: (now Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, India) where Gautama Buddha died and attained Parinirvana.

The Eight Great Places of pilgrimage

In addition the four sites mentioned earlier (Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar), the Buddhist texts later written by Buddha's followers also mention four more sacred sites where a certain miraculous event is reported to have occurred, thus completing the list of "Attha-mahathanani" (Pali for "The Eight Great Places") in India:

Rajgir: Place of the subduing of Nalagiri, the angry elephant, through friendliness. Rajgir was another major city of ancient India, with Nalanda nearby (14 km), a major center of Mahayana Buddhist learning.
Vaishali: Place of receiving an offering of honey from a monkey. Vaishali was the capital of the Vajjian Republic of ancient India.
Sravasti: Place of the Twin Miracle, showing his supernatural abilities in performance of miracles. Sravasti is also the place where Buddha spent the largest amount of time, being a major city in ancient India.
Sankassa: Place of the descending to earth from Tavatimsa heaven (after a stay of 3 months teaching his mother the Abhidhamma).

Other sites related to Buddha's travels

Some other pilgrimage places in India and Nepal connected to the life of Gautama Buddha are mostly located in the Gangetic plain.

Alphabetically by states

Please help expand this incomplete list.

 Andhra Pradesh: Amaravati, Nagarjuna Konda
 Bihar: Gaya, Kesariya, Nalanda, Vaishali, Pataliputta, Vikramshila
 Haryana (in the order of travel by Buddha): Kamashpura Aastha Pugdal Pagoda (Kumashpur, place where Buddha delivered the Mahasatipatthana sutta),. Kurukshetra Stupa, Topra, Srughna (Sugh Stupa) and Chaneti Stupa were all visited by the Buddha where he gave discourse after visiting Mathura he travelled along Grand Trunk Road in Haryana (also see Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Haryana).
 Madhya Pradesh: Sanchi
 Uttar Pradesh: Devadaha, Kapilavastu, Kosambi, Mathura, Pāvā (Fazilnagar, Varanasi

Chronologically by routes

In the order of places traveled by Buddha. Please help expand this incomplete list.

 Uttar Pradesh-Haryana travel route of Buddha
 From Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, Buddha travelled along Grand Trunk Road in Haryana (also see Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Haryana).
 Kamashpura Aastha Pugdal Pagoda (Kumashpur) in Sonipat city, the place where Buddha delivered the Mahasatipatthana sutta),.
 Kurukshetra Stupa on the banks of sacred Brahma Sarovar in Kurukshetra city
 Topra between Kurukshetra and Yamunanagar, now has a large open air museum park housing several replica of Ashoka's edicts including largest Ashoka Chakra in the world
 Srughna, now known as the Sugh Ancient Mound, on outskirts of Yamunanagar city
 Chaneti Stupa, on outskirts of Yamunanagar city

Other pilgrimage places by country

Other famous places for Buddhist pilgrimage in various countries include:

Bhutan: Punakha Dzong, Chimi Lhakhang Temple, Kyichu Lhakhang, Kurje Lhakhang, Gangtey Monastery, Gomphu Kora, Chagri Dorjeden Monastery, Dzongdrakha Monastery, Phajoding Monastery
Cambodia: Wat Botum, Wat Ounalom, Wat Botum, Silver Pagoda, Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom
China: Yungang Grottoes, Longmen Grottoes. The Four Sacred Mountains namely Wǔtái Shān(五台山), Éméi Shān(峨嵋山), Jiǔhuá Shān(九华山), Pǔtuó Shān(普陀山), Potala Palace, Mount Kailash, Lake Manasarovar, Lake Nam-tso.

India: Sanchi, Nalanda, Ellora, Ajanta, also see Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India
Indonesia: Borobudur, Mendut, Sewu.
Japan: Kyoto, Nara, Shikoku Pilgrimage, Kansai Kannon Pilgrimage
Laos: Luang Prabang
Malaysia: Kek Lok Si, Buddhist Maha Vihara, Brickfields
Myanmar: Shwedagon Pagoda, Mahamuni Buddha Temple, Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, Bagan, Sagaing Hill, Mandalay Hill
Mongolia: Erdene Zuu Monastery , Gandantegchinlen Monastery, Zayiin Gegeen Monastery, Gandantegchinlen Khiid Monastery, Amarbayasgalant Khiid, Shankh Monastery
Nepal: Maya Devi Temple, Boudhanath, Swayambhunath, Kapilavastu
Pakistan: Gandhara, most notably Taxila and Swat.
Sri Lanka: Anuradhapura (the Atamasthana or 'eight places'), Mihintale, Polonnaruwa, the Temple of the Tooth (Kandy), Sri Pada (the Solosmasthana Lewenth places'),
North Korea: Pohyonsa, Anguksa, Jangansa
South Korea: Bulguksa, Three Jewel Temples
Thailand: Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho, Wat Doi Suthep, Phra Pathom Chedi, Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, Wat Phra Phutthabat, Wat Phra Thaen Dong Rang (Buddha Death bed), Chedi Phukhao Thong, Phra Pathommachedi
United States of America: City of Ten Thousand Buddhas
Vietnam: Dâu Pagoda, Hương Pagoda, Mount Yen Tu

See also
Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India
Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal
Shikoku Pilgrimage, Eighty-eight Temples pilgrimage in the Shikoku island, Japan
Japan 100 Kannon Pilgrimage, pilgrimage circuit that is composed of three independent pilgrimages (Saigoku, Bandō and Chichibu), consist of one hundred Temples.
 Parikrama
 Yatra

Notes

References
Chan, Khoon San, Buddhist Pilgrimage (e-book - the eight major Buddhist sites in India)

External links
Virtual Tour of Buddhist Pilgrimage Sites on Google Map (Interactive 360° View available on certain sites)
Buddhist Pilgrimage in India and Sri Lanka

 Why do Buddhists go on Pilgrimage? Buddhism for Beginners

Buddhist pilgrimage sites


Rene Carpenter (April 12, 1928July 24, 2020) was an American newspaper columnist and television personality. She was the wife of Scott Carpenter, one of the Mercury Seven astronauts. She was part of the Astronaut Wives Club and was its last living member. She was born in Clinton, Iowa.

In 1968, she campaigned for Robert Kennedy. She had a syndicated women's page column, "A Woman, Still", and from 1972 to 1976, a television presenter, first with Everywoman, and then with Nine in the Morning. She worked for Committee for National Health Insurance.

Carpenter died on July 24, 2020, at a hospital in Denver from congestive heart failure, aged 92.  She was the last surviving member of the Astronaut Wives Club, after Annie Glenn died two months earlier.

References

1928 births
2020 deaths
Deaths from congestive heart failure
American columnists
American feminist writers
American television personalities
Writers from Iowa

Rene Carpenter


Herman M. Hickman (October 1, 1911 - April 25, 1958) was a Hall of Fame college football player for the University of Tennessee, and played for the NFL's Brooklyn Dodgers.  He later coached football and was a professional wrestler.

Playing career
Hickman came to the University of Tennessee from Johnson City, Tennessee. Hickman was a guard for the Tennessee Volunteers football team from 1929–1931.  He was chosen for Grantland Rice's All American football team in 1931. Hickman was also named to the All-Southern team in 1931 with teammate Gene McEver. Coach Robert Neyland held Hickman in high regard. "When one (football writer) said Hickman was 'the best guard the South ever produced,' Coach General Bob Neyland snarled, 'Herman Hickman is the greatest guard football has ever known.'"

Following his time at Tennessee, Hickman played for the NFL's Brooklyn Dodgers from 1932 to 1934.  He was named an All Pro at left guard in 1933.< name=bio/>  He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1959.

Coaching career
Hickman was an assistant at Wake Forest, North Carolina State and West Point before earning the head coaching job at Yale University in 1948.  He led the Bulldogs to a 16-17-2 record before resigning in 1951.

Other activities

Hickman was a writer, who came to be known as "Poet Laureate of the Little Smokies." He was also a staff writer for Sports Illustrated.

Hickman also was a professional wrestler, known as "The Tennessee Terror."  He wrestled in over 500 matches.

Sources

 HickokSports.com Bio
 College Football Hall of Fame Bio
 Professional Football Researchers Association
 2006 University of Tennessee Football Media Guide

1911 births
1958 deaths
National Football League players

Herman Hickman


Behind the Sun () is a 2001 social drama film directed by Walter Salles, produced by Arthur Cohn, and starring Rodrigo Santoro. Its original Portuguese title means Shattered April, and it is based on the 1978 novel Broken April written by the Albanian writer Ismail Kadare, about the honor culture in the North of Albania.

Co-produced by Brazil, France, and Switzerland, it was shot entirely in Bahia, taking place in Bom Sossego, a district of the city of Oliveira dos Brejinhos, and in the cities of Caetité and Rio de Contas.

Plot
The year is 1910; the place, the badlands of Northeast Region, Brazil. Twenty-year-old Tonho is the middle son of an impoverished farm family, the Breves. He is next in line to kill and then die in an ongoing blood feud with a neighboring clan, the Ferreiras. For generations, the two families have quarreled over land. Now they are locked into a series of tit-for-tat assassinations of their sons; an eye-for-an-eye, a tooth-for-a-tooth. Embedded in this choreography of death is a particular code of ethics: "Blood has the same volume for everyone. You have no right to take more blood than was taken from you." Life is suffused with a sense of futility and stoic despair.

Under pressure from his father, Tonho kills one of the Ferreira sons to avenge the murder of his older brother. This act marks him as the next victim. Tonho's younger brother is addressed only as "the Kid" by the family. Anticipating future loss, his parents don't give him a name. The Kid is an imaginative and loving child, whose spirit will not break in the face of harsh parenting, brutalizing isolation, and numbing poverty. The Kid's love encourages Tonho to question his fate. When Tonho meets Clara, a charming itinerant circus girl, all of life's possibilities open up for him.

The film is narrated by "The Kid" who is later given a name by Clara and her stepfather, the traveling circus performers.  They call him "Pacu" and he spends the whole film narrating which ultimately drives the viewers to identify and allows the film to humanize the characters.

Later, Pacu and Tonho visit the circus in town, with Tonho forming a relationship with Clara. Clara later leaves her stepfather to be with Tonho, arriving at the farm to be with him. The two sleep together before she departs, telling Tonho to meet her in the east by the ocean. One of the Ferreira men come to the farm in order to exact revenge on the Breves, initially appearing to kill Tonho. However, it is revealed that they actually shot and killed Pacu, devastating the Breves.

The father tells Tonho to get the gun in order to kill all of the remaining Ferreiras in retaliation. Tonho, realizing that his life with his family is destroyed, walks off without a word. His father attempts to shoot him for disregarding the honor of their family, but he is stopped by the mother who insists that the feud no longer matters and that it's over. Tonho arrives on a beach, staring at the sea with an expression of melancholic wonder on his face.

Cast
José Dumont as the father
Rodrigo Santoro as Tonho, the eldest son
Rita Assemany as the Mother
Ravi Ramos Lacerda as Pacu
Luiz Carlos Vasconcelos as Salustiano
Flávia Marco Antonio as Clara
Everaldo Pontes as Old Blind Man
Caio Junqueira as Inácio
Mariana Loureiro as Widow
Servilio De Holanda as Isaías
Wagner Moura as Matheus
Othon Bastos as Mr. Lourenço
Gero Camilo as Reginaldo
Vinícius de Oliveira as "the Kid"

Awards and nominations
BAFTA Film Awards
Best Film Not in the English Language – Arthur Cohn and Walter Salles (nominated)

Golden Globe Awards
Best Foreign Language Film (nominated)

Havana Film Festival
Best Director – Walter Salles (won)
House of the Americas Award – Walter Salles (won)

Venice Film Festival
Little Golden Lion – Arthur Cohn and Walter Salles (won)
Golden Lion – Walter Salles (nominated)

References

External links

2001 drama films
2001 films
Films based on Albanian novels
Brazilian comedy films
Films directed by Walter Salles
Films shot in Bahia
2000s Portuguese-language films
Films set in 1910
Films scored by Antônio Pinto

Behind the Sun (film)


Philipp Christoph von Sötern (11 December 1567 – 7 February 1652) was the Prince-Bishop of Speyer from 1610 to 1652 and the Archbishop-Elector of Trier from 1623 to 1652.

Biography

Philipp Christoph von Sötern was born in Zweibrücken. He was the son of a Catholic mother and a Protestant father, and was initially baptized as a Lutheran.  He converted to Catholicism as a child.  As an adolescent, he was educated at the Jesuit school in Trier.

At age 17, he became a canon of the Cathedral of Trier; he later also acquired canonicates at Mainz Cathedral and Speyer Cathedral.  He was elected provost of Trier in 1604 and proved adept at handling legal and diplomatic disputes.

On 30 May 1609, the cathedral chapter of Speyer Cathedral elected Sötern coadjutor bishop of Speyer, alongside Bishop Eberhard von Dienheim.  Pope Paul V confirmed his appointment on 11 December 1609.  Upon the death of Dienheim, Sötern succeeded as Bishop of Speyer on 10 October 1610.  He was subsequently ordained as a priest on 8 August 1612.  He was consecrated as a bishop by Stephan Weber, Auxiliary Bishop of Mainz, on 15 August 1612. In 1615, he ordered the fortification of the city of Udenheim, finalized by 1623 as Philippsburg fortress.

During the Thirty Years' War, he started as supporter of the Catholic League but his growing tense with the Spanish Habsburgs led him on the side of France and in opposition to Emperor Ferdinand II. The cathedral chapter of the Cathedral of Trier elected Sötern Archbishop of Trier on 25 September 1623 and Pope Urban VIII confirmed this appointment on 11 March 1624. As archbishop, Sötern pursued a rigid fiscal policy that made him unpopular with the people of the Archbishopric of Trier. He also alienated the people by appointing his family members to high office. In 1630, the people of Trier asked the spanish government in Luxemburg for help which responded by sending troops to occupy Trier. With aide from French troops, Sötern retook the city in 1632. In exchange and to protect his Bishoprics from Swedish troops, Sötern allowed France to occupy the fortress of Ehrenbreitstein. In 1634, Sötern supported the election of Cardinal Richelieu as coadjutor Archbishop of Trier, which would have given Richelieu control of a vote in an imperial election if Sötern had predeceased Richelieu.

Spanish Habsburg troops under Christopher of East Frisia retook Trier by surprise in 1635, and Sötern was subsequently imprisoned in Linz from 1635 to 1645. France used his imprisonment as pretext to declare war on Spain, starting the Franco-Spanish War. During his absence, the cathedral chapter took over administration of the archbishopric. Imperial troops dispelled the French garrison of Ehrenbreitstein in 1637 and occupied the place until the end of the war. The French diplomats in Westphalia demanded the archbishop's release, to which Emperor Ferdinand III agreed in 1645 for Sötern acceding to the Peace of Prague and delivering Philippsburg to the Emperor. After his release, Sötern again entered into secret negotiations with France. He ordered Turenne to capture the still Spanish occupied Trier and left Philippsburg to French troops against his agreement with the Emperor.

After French troops took Trier in November 1645 and once more left a garrison, most of the cathedral chapter feared for their safety and fled to Cologne. Sötern appointed new capitulars in their place. In 1649, Sötern made the newly appointed capitular Philipp Ludwig von Reiffenberg to his coadjutor. The exiled cathedral chapter protested and organised troops to take control of the Electorate and force Sötern to accept an election of the coadjutor. The troops headed by the capitular Karl Kaspar von der Leyen succeeded against the Elector's French auxiliary troops and the election determined Von der Leyen as coadjutor and designated successor of Sötern. The reluctant Elector finally gave up resistance and died mostly disempowered in Trier on 7 February 1652.

Further reading

References

1567 births
1652 deaths
Archbishop-Electors of Trier

Philipp Christoph von Sötern