Education and naval career Agnew was born in
Bucklow,
Cheshire, a son of C.L. Agnew of Knutsford. Educated at
Repton School, he entered the Royal Navy on 25 October 1918, trained at the
Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, and was commissioned as a
sub-lieutenant on 15 May 1921. He served as
Parliamentary Private Secretary to
Walter Runciman, the
President of the Board of Trade, in 1935–37, and to
Sir Philip Sassoon,
First Commissioner of Works, in 1937–39. He was an Assistant Government
Whip in May–July 1945, and held the Conservative Whip from August 1945 until February 1950. Agnew held the seat until the constituency's abolition at the
1950 general election. He contested the constituency of
Falmouth and Camborne, but lost to
Harold Hayman.
World War II Agnew returned to naval service in August 1939. He was
executive officer of the destroyer in March–October 1940, and was promoted to
commander on 9 July 1940. He was in command of the destroyer from November 1940 to March 1941, receiving a
Mention in Despatches on 1 January 1941. He then served aboard the
heavy cruiser from May 1941 until August 1942. From January 1943 until June 1944 he was on the staff of the
Royal Naval College,
Greenwich.
Return to Parliament He re-entered the
House of Commons at the
1955 general election as MP for
South Worcestershire, and was re-elected there until his retirement at the
1966 general election. ==Other activities==